May 16, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – Three Gamecocks shoot under-par during the second round of the NCAA East Regional in Auburn, Ala., to elevate South Carolina to eighth place with a two-day total of 581. Clemson leads the 27-team field with a team score of 562. Georgia Tech stands in second with a two-round score of 567, followed by the Volunteers of Tennessee with 572.

Leading the way for the Gamecocks is Martin Rominger, who shot two consecutive under-par scores to post a two-round total of 140 (69-71). Rominger is currently tied for eighth place. Freshman Eirik Johansen shot two-under-par in the second round of competition to finish the day in 26th place. In just the early stages of their collegiate careers, Rominger and Johansen have both been named to All-SEC teams. Johansen earned 2003 First Team All-SEC honors while, Rominger was named Second Team All-SEC in 2002.

Rebounding from a four-over-par 76 in the first round is sophomore Alex Hamilton. Hamilton, currently in 38th place, blasted two-under-par 70 for a two-day total of 146. Playing in his first NCAA tournament, West Streib is tied for 75th place with a score of 151. Rounding out the quintet is Nash Elliott, who posted a total of 160.

“We played really solid and put forth a good team effort,” stated Head Coach Puggy Blackmon. ” We finished really well today, which was something we struggled with yesterday. It makes all the difference to be sitting in the position we are in (eighth position) instead of a few positions lower and trying to make the cut.”

The NCAA East Regional at the Auburn University Club will conclude on Saturday, May 17. The top ten teams will advance to the NCAA Championships in Stillwater, Okla. on May 28-31. Live updates of the final round of competition can be viewed via the internet at www.golfstat.com.

Gamecock FinishesT8 Martin Rominger       69 -71=140T26 Eirik Johansen                74-70=144T38 Alex Hamilton                  76-70=146T75 West Streib          77-74=151T123 Nash Elliott            84-76=160

Team Finishes1    Clemson                 285-27=5622    Georgia Tech            281-286=5673    Tennessee              281-291=572T4   Florida                290-288=578T4   Wake Forest            290-288=578T4  Duke University             286-292=5787   Augusta State           290-290=580 8    South Carolina        296-285=581T9   Vanderbilt          293-289=582T9   Auburn             292-290=58211   Georgia State      292-292=58412   Coll. of Charleston    292-290=58213   Jacksonville State     295-292=58714   Penn State             305-286=59115   Georgia Southern           303-289=59216   East Tennessee State   297-296=59317   UNC Wilmington             300-299=599T18   Virginia Tech     302-301=603T18  Rhode Island       310-293=603T20  Alabama                310-298=608T20  James Madison              311-297=60822   Binghamton             307-305=61223   Maryland               311-305=61624   Liberty                312-307=61925   Charleston             317-313=63026   Yale           317-316=63327  Jackson State       335-332=667