Gamecocks Finish Third in Strong Field at LSU Invitational

BATON ROUGE, La. — South Carolina had a chance on Sunday for a comeback win at the LSU Invitational on the back nine but came up short taking third in a loaded field. The Gamecocks shot 293 (+5) today for a final 54-hole score of 881 (+17), five shots behind tournament champions No. 6 Illinois at 876 (+12).
 
“We had a much better week and the guys gave us a chance at the end,” said head coach Bill McDonald. “Conditions were extremely difficult with high winds and tough, demanding greens. We handled it well at times and not so well it seemed. I was very impressed with Nick Mayfield all week and his presence in the lineup really seemed to bring us together. We have some more work to do, but I feel good about the direction we’re going.”
 
Sophomore Jack Wall led Carolina in the final round with a 2-under 70. The Brielle, N.J., native was 5-under through 12 holes but made three bogeys coming in. He finished T-15^th for the tournament at 5-over overall (221), marking his first top-20 (third career) of the 2020-21 season.
 
Super senior Caleb Proveaux also posted a red number with a 71 (-1). Super senior All-American Jamie Wilson and sophomore Nick Mayfield were the final counting scores with 76s (+4) today. Mayfield, who was playing his third career event at Carolina (first in the lineup), finished T-21^st at 6-over (222) for the tournament in his season debut.
 
Junior Ryan Hall, the eighth ranked player in the nation coming into this week, was one shot back of eventual medalist Jackson Suber of Ole Miss after 36 holes of play. Hall shot 77 (+5) today with just two birdies. He did however manage his second-straight top-five finish (fifth career) still, tying for fourth at 2-over (218) for the tournament.
 
The Gamecocks strong showing this week should provide a jolt up the new Golfstat rankings when they’re released. Ten teams were ranked in the top-50 (six in the top-25) of the latest Golfstat Team Rankings coming in. Thirty-one of the 90 players in the field were ranked in the top-100 of the latest Golfstat Player Rankings.
 
Carolina led the field at the LSU Invitational with 52 birdies (only team with 50+). The team was also first in par-3 average (3.07, +4) and second in par-5 scoring (4.87, -8).
 
The Gamecocks will be off next week and will return to the course March 13-15 at the Tiger Invitational at Grand National in Opelika, Ala.
 
2021 LSU Invitational Gamecock Leaderboard
T4. Ryan Hall – 218 (+2)
T15. Jack Wall – 221 (+5)
T21. Nick Mayfield – 222 (+6)
T38. Caleb Proveaux – 225 (+9)
T43. Jamie Wilson – 226 (+10)
 
2021 LSU Invitational Team Leaderboard
1. No. 6 Illinois – 876 (+12)
2. No. 19 Vanderbilt – 878 (+14)
3. South Carolina – 881 (+17)
4. Arkansas State – 887 (+23)
5. No. 11 Florida – 889 (+25)
6. No. 17 Auburn – 891 (+27)
7. No. 22 Tennessee – 892 (+28)
8. No. 49 Ole Miss – 893 (+29)
9. Mississippi State – 894 (+30)
10. No. 12 Georgia – 899 (+35)
11. Kentucky – 900 (+36)
12. Missouri – 903 (+39)
13. No. 29 LSU – 904 (+40)
14. Louisiana Tech – 931 (+67)
15. No. 28 Alabama – DNF  
 
*Rankings via Golfstat as of 2/24/21
 
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