April 20, 2012

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Senior Wesley Bryan posted a 3-under 67 on Friday to lead South Carolina in the opening round of the 2012 SEC Championship at Sea Island Golf Club.

Bryan wrapped up the day in a tie for second place just two strokes back of Alabama’s Bobby Wyatt, who leads the tournament after shooting 5-under 65. As a team, the Gamecocks carded a 289 (+9) to finish the round in a tie for ninth place.

“Wesley had a good round,” South Carolina head coach Bill McDonald said. “Shooting 67 out here in pretty windy conditions is an excellent round. Will Murphy played pretty solid with a 2-over 72. The rest of the guys struggled to be honest with you. It was pretty disappointing, but we hung in there the last few holes.”

Bryan was at even par through 14 holes but he caught fire down the stretch as he birdied three of his final four holes to move to 3-under. For the round, the Chapin, S.C., native recorded six birdies, three bogeys and nine pars.

Murphy carded a 2-over 72 and will head into the second round in a tie for 30th. Murphy, who began the day on the 10th hole, made seven pars and two bogeys on the front side. He fell to 3-over with a bogey on the fourth but he birdied the fifth and made pars the rest of the way to get into the clubhouse at 2-over.

Freshman Caleb Sturgeon turned in a 74 (+4) and is tied for 42nd. After dropping to 5-over through 16 holes, Sturgeon ended the day on a positive note as he birdied the par-4 ninth to close out his round at 4-over.

Juniors Dykes Harbin and Dean Hester shot rounds of 76 (+6) and 77 (+7), respectively. Harbin is in a tie for 51st, while Hester is tied for 55th.

Alabama is in the lead after posting an 8-under 272. Georgia is in second with a score of 273 (-7), followed by Auburn (277), Florida (283) and Kentucky (284).

The Gamecocks will tee off at 8 a.m. on Saturday for the second round and are paired with Arkansas and Mississippi. Live scoring will be available at golfstatresults.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T2. Wesley Bryan 67 (-3)
T30. Will Murphy 72 (+2)
T42. Caleb Sturgeon 74 (+4)
T51. Dykes Harbin 76 (+6)
T55. Dean Hester 77 (+7)

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Alabama 272 (-8)
2. Georgia 273 (-7)
3. Auburn 277 (-3)
4. Florida 283 (+3)
5. Kentucky 284 (+4)
6. Tennessee 285 (+5)
7. Arkansas 286 (+6)
8. Ole Miss 287 (+7)
T9. South Carolina 289 (+9)
T9. Vanderbilt 289 (+9)
T9. Mississippi State 289 (+9)
12. LSU 296 (+16)