May 22, 2010

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – South Carolina stormed back to contention in the final round of the 2010 NCAA East Regional but fell four strokes short of fifth place and an NCAA Championship team berth at the Course at Yale University on Saturday.

The Gamecocks fired a 276 (-4) on the final round as a team, led by seniors George Bryan IV (-4) and Paul Woodbury (-3). The elder Bryan spread five birdies out over his last 14 holes, including back-to-back at the turn on holes one and two. Woodbury scored the only eagle on the weekend for a Gamecock on No. 16 and stood at three-under on the course’s back nine. He balanced two bogeys with two birdies on the front nine to close out the day with a 67.

Sophomore Wesley Bryan ended the day at 71 (+1), while freshman Clint Tolleson closed the team scoring at 72 (+2). Bryan played brilliantly through 17 holes, with birdies at 14, 16, one, five and seven before ending the day with his 71 after a nine on the par-three ninth. Tolleson got his 72 with birdies on one and five while posting double bogeys on 15 and seven. Senior Patrick Rada shot an 86 in the final round.

The Bryans finished tied for sixth at three-under 207 for the weekend, while Woodbury was among eight people tied for eighth at two-under 208. It’s the first time in program history that three student-athletes finished a regional event in the top 10. The Bryans both improved on their tie for 14th in last year’s southeast regional in Sorrento, Fla., while Woodbury was playing in his first NCAA Regional. Rhys Enoch of East Tennessee State tied with Penn State’s T.J. Howe at seven-under 203 on the weekend for medalist honors, while Enoch claimed the individual berth in the NCAA Championships.

Texas and Kent State tied for the overall title at 835 (-5), while UCLA (-4) and Penn State (-3) joined the winners under par. Virginia claimed the final spot with a three-over 843, one shot better than Charlotte and East Tennessee State. South Carolina finished eighth at 847, with Alabama (+10) and UNC Wilmington (+11) rounding out the top 10.

2010 NCAA East Regional
The Course at Yale – New Haven, Conn. – Par 70
Final Results

South Carolina Results
T6. George Bryan IV – 207 (-3)
T6. Wesley Bryan – 207 (-3)
T8. Paul Woodbury – 208 (-2)
T63. Clint Tolleson – 226 (+16)
75. Patrick Rada – 242 (+32)

Team Standings
1. Texas – 835 (-5)
Kent State – 835 (-5)
3. UCLA – 836 (-4)
4. Penn State – 837 (-3)
5. Virginia – 843 (+3)
6. East Tennessee State – 844 (+4)
Charlotte – 844 (+4)
8. South Carolina – 846 (+6)
9. Alabama – 850 (+10)
10. UNC Wilmington – 851 (+11)
11. Southeastern Louisiana – 856 (+16)
12. Vanderbilt – 858 (+18)
13. Columbia – 880 (+40)
14. Lafayette – 900 (+60)