Nov. 27, 2007

COLUMBIA – South Carolina men’s golf head coach Bill McDonald announced that Sam Braver, Wesley Bryan and Clint Tolleson have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University and play golf for the Gamecocks. All three will have four years of eligibility beginning with the 2008-09 academic year.

“We are thrilled to have these young men joining our program,” McDonald said. “All three possess tremendous talent on the course and are excellent students as well, and they will certainly be great contributors to our golf program. I know they will represent the University of South Carolina in great fashion. Each one of these young men has shown the desire to win championships, which is so important as our program continues moving forward.”

A 2007 AJGA Rolex All-American, Braver won the Future Masters, The Heritage Junior Championship and The David Gossett Junior Championship last summer. At signing, he was ranked 30th in the nation on the Golfweek/Sagarin Junior Rankings and was the top ranked player in Georgia. Braver also turned in a top-10 performance at the 2006 Georgia Junior Championship and was second in the 2007 Bobby Chapman.

“Sam is one of the most talented and free-spirited players I have ever seen,” McDonald said. “He is so much fun to watch. Being able to sign one of the top ranked players from Georgia is great for our program. Sam and his parents, Joe and Maureen, have already become huge ambassadors for South Carolina golf and the University.”

The younger brother of current Gamecock standout George Bryan IV, Wesley Bryan won the 2007 South Carolina State Junior Championship, breaking the tournament scoring record by seven shots. He has represented the Palmetto state twice in the South Carolina vs. Georgia Challenge Cup Matches, and advanced to the second round of match play in the 2007 USGA Junior Amateur. Bryan won the individual title at the 2007 Class AAA Boys State Championship while helping Dutch Fork to a second-place finish. He finished second at the event in 2006 and tied with brother George for fourth place in 2005.

“I am looking forward to having the two Bryan young men on the same team next year,” McDonald said. “Wesley has tremendous talent. He has all of the skills to play the game at a very high level and is not afraid to shoot some low numbers. Wesley is mature beyond his years on the golf course. His short game is phenomenal, and he plays with a lot of confidence”.

Tolleson also has Gamecock ties as brother Steve played baseball at the University from 2003 to 2005. Clint Tolleson won the 2007 Region II-4A Championship and led the Dorman High School Cavaliers to the 2007 Class 4A State Championship. He finished seventh in the Carolinas Junior last summer and was named to the 2007 National High School Golf Coaches Association All-America Team and was on the organization’s Players of Achievement list in 2006. Tolleson won the South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship in 2006 and represented the Palmetto State in the South Carolina vs. Georgia Challenge Cup that year as well.

“I have felt for some time now that Clint is going to surprise a lot of people in college golf,” McDonald said. “He has some refining to do with his game, but the talent, desire, and work ethic he displays are outstanding. I have no doubt that he will be a major contributor to our program.”