March 2, 2010

WILMINGTON, N.C. – With inclement weather moving through eastern North Carolina on Tuesday morning, the final round of the Seahawk Intercollegiate was canceled, giving No. 7 South Carolina a runner-up finish at the weather-shortened event. The Gamecocks shot 588 (+12) in the first 36 holes Monday at the Country Club of Landfall’s Nicklaus Course to take the second spot behind tournament champion Augusta State.

“It was nasty out there, lots of wind yesterday, rain and cold today,” head coach Bill McDonald said. “We were making up a little ground today before they brought us in, but Augusta just played lights-out on the first day. They played about as well as you can play this course in conditions like that. We didn’t play badly, just not super sharp. But we’re not far off, so that’s a good sign.”

Sophomore Wesley Bryan was the top finisher for the Gamecocks, shooting 73-71=144 (E) and finishing in a tie for sixth place. George Bryan IV tied for 11th at 146 (+2) and Clint Tolleson tied for 18th with a 149 (+5). The teams were on the course when the tournament was halted, and results reverted to the end of the second round.

“Clint and Paul (Woodbury) were playing really well today,” McDonald said. “Clint was 2-under through seven holes when they called it off. Dean Hester was battling; he had two bad holes yesterday and shot 76-77, so that tells you how close he is. Wesley played some of his best golf of the year, too.”

Augusta State, ranked No. 10 in the nation, won the event by 19 shots with a 569 (-7), and the Jaguars’ Patrick Reed tied East Carolina’s Jake Colley for medalist honors at 139 (-5). In five tournaments this year, South Carolina has earned a top-five finish four times, including one tournament title (Rees Jones Intercollegiate) and two runner-up finishes.

South Carolina’s next event will be the Seminole Intercollegiate, which runs March 12-14 in Tallahassee, Fla.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T6. Wesley Bryan – 73-71=144 (E)
T11. George Bryan IV – 73-73=146 (+2)
T18. Clint Tolleson – 73-76=149 (+5)
T23. Patrick Rada – 76-74=150 (+6)
T33. Paul Woodbury – 75-77=152 (+8)
*T39. Dean Hester – 77-76=153 (+9)
(*competing as an individual)

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Augusta State – 280-289=569 (-7)
2. South Carolina – 294-294=588 (+12)
3. UNC Wilmington – 293-296=589 (+13)
4. Georgia State – 297-294=591 (+15)
5. East Carolina – 293-299=592 (+16)
T6. Wake Forest – 294-301=595 (+19)
T6. Virginia Commonwealth – 292-303=595 (+19)
8. North Carolina – 311-300=611 (+35)
9. Davidson – 297-317=614 (+38)
10. James Madison – 307-308=615 (+39)
11. William & Mary – 314-312=626 (+50)
12. Drexel – 324-333=657 (+81)