June 19, 2007

COLUMBUS, Ga. - George Bryan IV, a rising sophomore on the University of South Carolina men's golf team, won the 78th Southeastern Amateur Sunday at the Country Club of Columbus in Columbus, Ga. Bryan went wire-to-wire for the victory and his four-round total of 273 set a new tournament record since the course's renovation in 2002.

Bryan got off to a blazing start in the event, opening the tournament with a seven-under par 64 on Thursday. The round matched a course record. The Gamecock All-American followed with rounds of 69 Friday and a 67 on Saturday and was able to withstand his toughest round of 73 on Sunday to secure a three-shot win. Wright Waddell of Columbus, Ga., finished second in the 77-man field.

Bryan, who hails from Columbia, S.C., led South Carolina with five top-20 finished in his rookie season. He was selected to the PING All-Southeast Region team and earned honorable mention All-America honors.

Mark Silvers, a native of Savannah, Ga., and a rising junior for the Gamecocks, tied for 37th in the Southeastern Amateur. Silvers completed the tournament with a total score of 74-72-73-75=294. Silvers led South Carolina by tying for 22nd at the NCAA Championship earlier this month. The Gamecocks tied for 11th, their best finish since 1998 and the second-best finish in school history at the championship.