Oct. 28, 2007

GREENSBORO, Ga. – Tenth-seeded South Carolina upset No. 7 Florida State 3-1-1 in the first round of the Callaway Golf Collegiate Match Play Championship. Gamecock men’s golf advanced to face No. 2 Alabama in the second round, which was suspended Sunday night due to darkness. Play at Reynolds Plantation will resume on Monday with the third round beginning approximately one hour after the second round is completed.

It was the bottom of the order that delivered victory for the Gamecocks in round one. Sophomore George Bryan IV fell to FSU’s Jonas Blixt 4 and 3 at the number one position. Patrick Rada halved his matchup with Matthew Savage at No. 2.

Playing in the No. 3 spot, senior Mark Anderson needed just one hole to open a lead on Drew Kittleson and built his lead to four strokes four holes later. Kittleson cut the lead to two with three holes to play before Anderson closed the door on the ninth hole, winning the match 3 and 2.

Senior Paul Woodbury delivered the swiftest victory for the Gamecocks in the No. 4 position, knocking off Seath Lauer 5 and 4. Lauer took a one-stroke lead after two holes and held on for four more holes. Woodbury got all square on No. 18 and proceeded to take the next four holes. After halving No. 5 and winning No. 6, Woodbury halved No. 7 to the win.

Junior Florian Fritsch picked up a 3 and 1 win at No. 5 to seal the Gamecocks’ victory. Fritsch never trailed FSU’s Tommy Rymer in the match after winning the second hole they played. Rymer got within one stroke as late as the 12th hole played before Fritsch won the next two holes.

Early in round two, the Gamecocks are ahead in four of the five matches through 15 holes. Bryan is 3 up, while Woodbury and Fritsch are 2 up, and Rada is 1 up with three holes to play for each. If South Carolina holds on for the win, the Gamecocks will face either Georgia or Georgia Tech.

(10) South Carolina def. (7) Florida State, 3-1-1
Jonas Blixt (FSU) def. George Bryan IV, 4 and 3
Patrick Rada (SC) halved Matt Savage
Mark Anderson (SC) def. Drew Kittleson, 3 and 2
Paul Woodbury (SC) def. Seath Lauer, 5 and 4
Florian Fritsch (SC) def. Tommy Rymer, 3 and 1