Sept. 25, 2010

By Wes Todd
Assistant Media Relations Director

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – South Carolina freshman Blaine Woodruff equaled the day’s low round with a 4-under-par 67 and put himself and the Gamecocks within striking distance of the lead on Saturday at the Mason Rudolph Championship.

The Gamecocks are in second place at 564 (-4) after posting the low team round of the day with a 5-under-par 279, six shots behind tournament leader Memphis at 558 (-10). Carolina was one of two teams under par on the day – Chattanooga shot a 2-under 282 – and Memphis and Middle Tennessee State posted even-par rounds.

Woodruff continues to impress in just his second collegiate tournament, moving into second place and within a shot of the tournament lead after his second straight round in the 60s. After a bogey on the second hole, the native of Acworth, Ga., was error-free the rest of the day and took advantage of a receptive golf course with birdies at the third and sixth holes to make the turn at 1-under for the day. After four more pars, Woodruff made back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15, then birdied the 18th for the second straight day to finish off a stellar round of 67 (-4). Coupled with his 2-under 69 on Friday, Woodruff stands at 136 (-6) with 18 holes to play.

Wesley Bryan, the team’s most experienced veteran, had a strong round of 69 (-2) to move into the tournament’s top 10 at 140 (-2) through two rounds. Bryan was nearly flawless in his second round, posting birdie at the first hole then rolling off nine straight pars before another birdie at the 11th. Another birdie at No. 15 moved him to 3-under for the day, but a stretch of 25 straight bogey-free holes came to an end at the 18th as he posted his only bogey of the day. Bryan is alone in seventh place through two rounds.

Freshman Logan Harrell improved by three shots over his first round, posting an even-par 71 to remain at 3-over through two rounds. Harrell was two-under as he made the turn after birdies at Nos. 2 and 7, but gave both back on his second nine with bogeys at the 10th and 16th to finish off an even-par day.

Fellow freshman Caulder Moore had his second straight round of 72 (+1), carding three birdies along with four bogeys to move to 2-over for the week. Moore birdied the second hole, then made bogeys at Nos. 5 and 6 before another birdie at the ninth to make the turn at even par. However, bogeys at the 12th and 14th dropped him to 2-over before a birdie at the lengthy par-3 16th pulled him back to within a shot of par. Dean Hester had just one birdie on the day and carded five bogeys en route to a 4-over- 75.

Following Memphis and South Carolina, Oklahoma is in third place at 2-under, dropping eight shots after sharing the first-round lead. Ole Miss is in fourth place, the only other team under par at minus-1. The Tigers’ Jack Belote remains the individual leader at 7-under, but Woodruff is right on his heels at 6-under. Four players are tied for third place at 139 (-3).

South Carolina will be in the final pairing for Sunday’s final round along with Memphis and Oklahoma. Tee times begin at 10:05 a.m. ET on the No. 1 tee. Live scoring will be available via golfstatresults.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
2. Blaine Woodruff – 69-67=136 (-6)
7. Wesley Bryan – 71-69=140 (-2)
T29. Caulder Moore – 72-72=144 (+2)
T35. Logan Harrell – 74-71=145 (+3)
T54. Dean Hester – 73-75=148 (+6)