April 22, 2012

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — The South Carolina men’s golf team posted a 293 (+13) on Sunday to wrap up play at the 2012 SEC Championship at Sea Island Golf Club.

The Gamecocks finished the weekend in 10th place with a three-round total of 871 (+31). Carolina battled through windy and soggy conditions after storms passed through the area overnight and into the morning.

Senior Wesley Bryan carded a 2-over 72 to lead the Gamecocks. The Chapin, S.C., native finished in a tie for 13th with a score of 212 (+2), which is his third career top-20 finish at the SEC Championship. Bryan had a rough start to the round as he bogeyed the 10th and 11th holes to begin the day. He settled down to card nine straight pars before making another bogey on No. 3 to drop to 3-over. Bryan remained at 3-over until he recorded birdie on the par-4 eighth to move to 2-over, where he finished the day.

Freshman Will Murphy turned in the second lowest round for Carolina as he shot a 3-over 73 to finish in a tie for 37th with a score of 218 (+8). Murphy recorded four birdies, five bogeys, a double bogey and eight pars on the day. He was at 4-over heading into the final three holes but he nearly drove the green on the par-4 eighth and ended up making a birdie to get back to 3-over.

Freshman Caleb Sturgeon and junior Dean Hester each shot a 4-over 74. Sturgeon finished in a tie for 27th with a score of 216 (+6) after tallying two birdies, two bogeys, two double bogeys and 12 pars on Sunday. Hester, who finished 52nd with a score of 226 (+16), produced his best round of the weekend with two birdies, two bogeys, two double bogeys and 12 pars.

Junior Dykes Harbin shot a 7-over 77 and finished in 53rd with a three-round total of 229 (+19). For the round, Harbin made four bogeys, a triple bogey and 13 pars.

Alabama shot a final-round 282 (+2) and held on to win its second SEC title with a score of 828 (-12). Auburn took second with a total of 834 (-6), followed by Florida (841), Georgia (850) and Arkansas (855).

Alabama’s Justin Thomas posted a 2-under 68 on Sunday to win medalist honors with a three-round total of 203 (-7).

The Gamecocks will now wait for the NCAA Regional pairings to be announced on May 7. Carolina could end up at one of six locations, including Greensboro, N.C., Athens, Ga., Ann Arbor, Mich., Bowling Green, Ky., Norman, Okla. and Stanford, Calif.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T13. Wesley Bryan 67-73-72=212 (+2)
T27. Caleb Sturgeon 74-68-74=216 (+6)
T37. Will Murphy 72-73-73=218 (+8)
52. Dean Hester 77-75-74=226 (+16)
53. Dykes Harbin 76-76-77=229 (+19)

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Alabama 272-274-282=828 -12
2. Auburn 277-280-277=834 -6
3. Florida 283-278-280=841 +1
4. Georgia 273-284-293=850 +10
5. Arkansas 286-280-289=855 +15
6. Mississippi 287-285-285=857 +17
7. Kentucky 284-294-288=866 +26
8. Tennessee 285-290-293=868 +28
9. Vanderbilt 289-286-294=869 +29
10. South Carolina 289-289-293=871 +31
11. LSU 296-284-297=877 +37
12. Mississippi State 289-290-300=879 +39