Gamecocks T-3rd after first round of OFCC/Fighting Illini Inv.
Ryan Hall (T-13th) paced Carolina with an even par 70 in R1
OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. — South Carolina opened play at the 2018 OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational on Friday with a first round 283 (+3). The Gamecocks are T-3rd with No. 23 UNLV. No. 1 Oklahoma State and No. 11 Cal are tied for the lead after first round 273s (-7).
“It was a solid round by the guys today and I continue to be impressed with our freshmen,” said head coach Bill McDonald. “Both Ryan (Hall) and Teddy (Tetak) handled themselves really well on a tough and demanding golf course. Our guys were very patient and kept grinding. We’ll need a lot more of that mindset over the next couple of days for sure.”
Freshman Ryan Hall paced Carolina with a first round 70 (E), his second consecutive round of par or better dating back to a 69 (-3) in the final round of the Carpet Capital Collegiate on Sept. 9. The Knoxville, Tenn., native made the turn at 1-over (36). He posted a bogey free 1-under 34 on the back nine. After a 2-over start, Hall shot 2-under over his final 13 holes with 11 pars and a pair of red numbers. He’s T-13th heading into round two.
The Gamecocks were second in the field the first 18 holes in par-3 scoring average (3.00, E). Hall is tied for the field lead in par-3 scoring average with Cal’s Collin Morikawa at 2.50 (-2).
Senior Scott Stevens, senior Will Miles and freshman Teddy Tetak are all T-21st at 1-over par after carding 70s in Friday’s first round. Miles had three birdies on the back nine and Stevens finished strong with a birdie on the final hole, a 498-yard par-4.
Junior Jamie Wilson shot 75 (+5) in his season debut. He started hot with three birdies in his first five holes, but shot 6-over his final 12 holes with no red numbers.
Matthew Wolf of Oklahoma State is in the individual lead after a 5-under 65 in the first round. He was one of just 12 players in the 75-man field to shoot under par Friday.
The Gamecocks will be paired with the co-leaders in Saturday’s second round. Wilson will lead things off for Carolina at 10:30 a.m. ET on hole one.