March 11, 2005

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Freshman Mark Anderson owns a share of the lead and the No. 20 South Carolina men’s golf team is tied for second at the conclusion of the first round of the Southern Highlands Collegiate Championship at the Southern Highlands Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nev., on Friday.

Competing against a stout field that features 11 of the top 15 teams in the country and all 15 teams ranked in the top 24, the Gamecocks put themselves in the hunt by shooting a 290 (+2) to tie with No. 12 UCLA. No. 14 Arizona State is in first after firing 388 (E).

” The team got off to a fast start today, especially Mark Anderson, who was seven-under through eight holes,” head coach Puggy Blackmon said. “This is an incredible confidence boost for our team. They now know that they can compete against the best. We’re looking forward to the experience of playing in the final pairings Saturday.”

Anderson, who hails from Beaufort, S.C., and UCLA freshman Daniel Im sit atop the individual leaderboard as both carded a six-under par 66. Anderson got off to an impressive start, recording five birdies and an eagle on the front nine. Anderson’s 66 marked the best 18-hole effort of his young career at South Carolina. What makes his performance even more impressive is that the tournament’s field includes eight of the top-10 ranked individuals in the country.

“Mark continues his stellar play, and he certainly got some national attention today,” Blackmon stated.

Fellow rookie Warren Thomas (Columbia, S.C.) fired a two-over par 72 and resides in 31st place. Thomas matched the best round of his USC career.

Senior Alex Hamilton (Aiken, S.C.) and juniors Eirik Johansen (Stavanger, Norway) and Robert Svennson (Mjolby, Sweden) are all tied for 40th place after firing a three-over par 75.

“Robert Svensson showed some incredible courage and fortitude today playing with the ill effects of a stomach virus,” Blackmon said. “He refused to quit.”

Svensson had to lie down on the course periodically during his round and, following the round, he was taken to a local hospital for an IV.

South Carolina currently leads the other three SEC schools competing in the event. No. 3 Georgia and No. 9 Florida are tied for seventh, while No. 6 Auburn is in 11th. No. 19 Clemson is also playing in the tournament and the Tigers are tied for 12th with TCU after the first day of play.

The three-day tournament continues on Saturday with a second round of 18 holes. The Gamecocks tee off at 12:30 p.m. ET. Live scoring is available online at www.golfstat.com

SOUTH CAROLINA INDIVIDUAL SCORES
T1 Mark Anderson 66, -6
T31st Warren Thomas 74, +2
T40th Eirik Johansen 75, +3
T40th Robert Svensson 75, +3
T40th Alex Hamilton 75, +3

TEAM LEADERBOARD
Place, School, Score, Par
1. Arizona State, 288, E
T2. South Carolina, 290, +2
T2. UCLA, 290, +2
4. Oklahoma State, 292, +4
5. Washington, 293, +5
6. UNLV, 294, +6
T7. Georgia, 296, +8
T7. Florida, 296, +8
T9. Wake Forest, 297, +9
T9. Georgia Tech, 297, +9
11. Auburn, 299, +11
T12. Clemson, 300, +12
T12. TCU, 299, +12
14. Texas, 302, +14
15. New Mexico, 303, +15