April 22, 2007

ST. SIMONS, Ga. - Led by a trio of golfers who tied for 16th place, the South Carolina Gamecocks finished eighth at the SEC Men's Golf Championship, which concluded Sunday at the Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons, Ga. Carolina navigated the Par 70, 6,991-yard layout at the Seaside Course with its best round of the weekend, firing 288 on the final 18 holes.

Juniors Mark Anderson and Warren Thomas, along with sophomore Florian Fritsch, shared 16th place on the individual leader board.

Anderson finished strong on Sunday, sinking four birdies on his way to carding a one-under par 69. It marked the best round of the weekend for any Gamecock and set a new season-best for Anderson. The Beaufort, S.C., native moved up 20 spots in the final round and wrapped up the tournament with a three-day total of 77-75-69=221 (+11).

Thomas shot a two-over par 72 on the final 18 holes. The Columbia, S.C., product concluded with a total score of 75-74-72=221 (+11) to finish in the top 20 for the second consecutive event.

Fritsch, who led South Carolina throughout the event, carded a final round 74 (+4). He finished with rounds of 74-73-74=221 (+11).

Freshman George Bryan IV tied for 40th in his first SEC Championship. Bryan, who hails from Chapin, S.C., shot 73 (+3) Sunday, finishing with a total score of 80-75=73=228 (+18). Sophomore Allen Koon rounded out the South Carolina lineup by tying for 55th. Koon completed the weekend with rounds of 78-76-81=235 (+25).

Tennessee won the team championship (301-283-285=869), edging Alabama by two strokes (298-288-285=871). Auburn's Patton Kizzire held on to his second-round lead to finish as the individual medalist. Kizzire produced a three-day total of 72-69-70=211 (+1), bettering the field by four strokes.

The field for each of three NCAA Regionals will be announced on Monday, May 7, at 6 p.m. ET on NCAAsports.com. Regional play is scheduled for May 17-19.

SEC Championship (Final)
1 Tennessee +29 301-283-285=869
2 Alabama +31 298-288-285=871
3 Auburn +34 304-288-282=874
4 Mississippi +36 295-293-288=876
5 Florida +38 304-284-290=878
6 Georgia +43 308-289-286=883
7 Vanderbilt +46 302-295-289=886
8 South Carolina +49 304-297-288=889
9 Louisiana State +52 301-297-294=892
10 Arkansas +57 316-295-286=897
11 Kentucky +61 312-293-296=901
12 Mississippi St. +73 304-307-302=913

South Carolina Scores (Final)
T16 Mark Anderson 77-75-69=221 (+11)
T16 Florian Fritsch 74-73-74=221 (+11)
T16 Warren Thomas 75-74-72=221 (+11)
T40 George Bryan IV 80-75-73=228 (+18)
T55 Allen Koon 78-76-81=235 (+25)