March 12, 2011

By Wes Todd
Assistant Media Relations Director

BANDON, Ore. – South Carolina junior golfer Wesley Bryan earned his second straight top-five finish to lead the Gamecocks at the Bandon Dunes Championship, which concluded Saturday at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. The Gamecocks tied for seventh place as a team with a score of 296-298-306=900 (+36).

Bryan, who finished in fourth place at last month’s Seahawk Invitational, earned the third top-five finish of his career and his second in as many tournaments. A round of 2-over-par 74 on Saturday gave him a 54-hole total of 217 (+1), one shot back of tournament runner-up Chris Williams of Washington and seven shots back of tournament medalist Charlie Hughes at 6-under 210.

The native of Chapin, S.C., started strong with birdies on his first two holes, then dropped back to even par after birdies on Nos. 4 and 6. After seven straight pars, Bryan made a birdie at the 14th to get back to red figures, but then made three straight bogeys coming home before a par at the closing 18th.

Sophomore Dykes Harbin improved by five strokes over his second-round score with a 5-over-par 77, equaling a Saturday effort from freshman Logan Harrell. Harbin made bogey on three of his first four holes, but worked his way back to 1-over with birdies at the fifth and 10th holes. Another birdie at 14 helped offset a bogey-double bogey stretch on 11 and 12, and he finished the day at 5-over after a bogey at the 17th. Harrell made the turn at 4-over and was as high as 6-over after bogeys at 11 and 12, but got two strokes back with consecutive birdies at 13 and 14. A bogey at 16 would leave him 5-over for the day.

Freshman Blaine Woodruff finished with a 78 (+6) on Saturday that included three birdies, but he had trouble recovering from a rough stretch of holes to begin his round. And sophomore Dean Hester wrapped up the week with a 79 (+7).

Washington was the wire-to-wire leader, winning the tournament at 871 (+7), eight shots ahead of Oregon at 879 (+15). SEC foe Florida took third place at 17-over.

The Gamecocks will shift gears for their next event as they head to the Callaway/GCAA Match Play Championships, where they will play four 18-hole matches over three days against some of the country’s best. The tournament runs March 20-22 at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Ga.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
3. Wesley Bryan – 70-73-74=217 (+1)
T31. Blaine Woodruff – 75-73-78=226 (+10)
T39. Dean Hester – 76-75-79=230 (+14)
T55. Logan Harrell – 79-77-77=233 (+17)
T60. Dykes Harbin – 75-82-77=234 (+18)

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Washington – 871 (+7)
2. Oregon – 879 (+15)
3. Florida – 881 (+17)
4. Oregon State – 890 (+26)
5. Colorado – 893 (+29)
6. San Jose State – 894 (+30)
T7. South Carolina – 900 (+36)
T7. St. Mary’s – 900 (+36)
9. Vanderbilt – 904 (+40)
10. Loyola Marymount – 930 (+66)
11. Mercer – 932 (+68)
12. Northern Colorado – 935 (+71)
13. Utah Valley State – 942 (+78)
14. Gonzaga – 946 (+82)
15. Boise State – 965 (+101)
16. British Columbia – DNF