April 27, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Senior George Bryan IV led a contingent of three Gamecocks named to the All-SEC Men’s Golf Team, the Southeastern Conference announced Tuesday. Bryan IV was named First-Team All-SEC while sophomore Wesley Bryan and senior Paul Woodbury were named to the league’s Second Team.

Bryan IV, a native of Chapin, S.C., is wrapping up his career as one of the most prolific golfers in South Carolina history. His career scoring average of 72.45 stands atop the record books, as does his average of 71.60 thus far in the 2009-10 season. Ranked 38th in the nation in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin release, He has tied for medalist honors twice this season – including the SEC Championship – falling in playoffs on both occasions. Bryan IV has earned four top-five finishes and seven top-20 showings in 10 events this season. This marks his third selection to the All-SEC team, matching his first-team distinction in 2008 and adding to his placement on the second team in 2009. He becomes the fifth South Carolina golfer to be named All-SEC three times, joining Eric Ecker, Eirik Johansen, David Seawell and Kyle Thompson.

Wesley Bryan, the younger brother of George, is third on the team and 11th in the SEC with a 72.46 scoring average on the season. So far this season, he has posted five top-10 finishes and a tie for 11th in 10 events, with his best showing being a tie for sixth place at the Seahawk Intercollegiate. His most impressive feat in 2010, however, was a round of 64 (-7) in the second round of the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate on March 29 that ranks as the second-best round in Gamecock golf history. He is ranked 85th in the nation and has posted 14 rounds of par or better during the 2009-10 season. Bryan was also named to the SEC All-Freshman Team last season.

Woodbury is making his first appearance on the All-SEC team after a stellar senior campaign. A native of Lake City, S.C., Woodbury became the first Gamecock to win two tournaments in one season since Kyle Thompson in 2000-01 as he captured medalist honors at the Rees Jones Intercollegiate and the Seminole Intercollegiate, winning both tournaments in playoffs. Equaling the Bryan brothers with 14 rounds at par or better this season, Woodbury is second on the team and ninth in the SEC with a 72.36 scoring average.

Georgia took three of the four top awards with SEC Champion Russell Henley named Golfer of the Year, Chris Haack named Coach of the Year and Bryden MacPherson named Freshman of the Year. Florida’s Bank Vongvanij was named the league’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The Gamecocks matched the Bulldogs with three selections apiece to the All-SEC team, leading all schools. Florida, Alabama and Tennessee had two selections each.

2010 SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE MEN’S GOLF AWARDS

Coach of the Year: Chris Haack, Georgia
Golfer of the Year: Russell Henley, Georgia
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Bank Vongvanij, Florida
Freshman of the Year: Bryden MacPherson, Georgia

FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC
Russell Henley, Georgia
Jonathan Randolph, Ole Miss
Harris English, Georgia
Tyson Alexander, Florida
David Lingmerth, Arkansas
George Bryan IV, South Carolina
Andrew Loupe, LSU
Bud Cauley, Alabama
Hunter Hamrick, Alabama

SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
Wesley Bryan, South Carolina
Paul Woodbury, South Carolina
David Holmes, Tennessee
Kyle Kopsick, Auburn
Tim McKenney, Florida
Hudson Johnson, Vanderbilt
Robin Wingardh, Tennessee
Bryden MacPherson, Georgia

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Chase Parker, Kentucky
Bryden MacPherson, Georgia
Austin Cook, Arkansas
Phillip Choi, Florida
Pete Kellerman, Ole Miss
Jay Vandeventer, Tennessee
David Zickler, Auburn
Lee Knox, Alabama
Tom Brown, Ole Miss