Sept. 23, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina men’s golf senior Will Starke is set to compete as an amateur in the Porsche European Open on Thursday at Golf Resort Bad Griesbach in Bad Griesbach, Germany.

The event features notables such as course designer and two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer, former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell and six-time PGA Tour winner Hunter Mahan. Other big names in the field at the 7,188-yard par-72 course include Bernd Wiesberger, Lee Slattery, Miguel Ãngel Jiménez and Byeong Hun-An.

Starke is set to tee off on the back nine at 7:40 a.m. ET (1:40 p.m. local) in a threesome that includes Florida Fritsch and Daniel Gaunt. One other collegiate amateur is in the field as well with Arizona State senior and Germany-native Max Rottluff, who will tee off in the group just ahead of Starke.

Starke was recently named to Golfweek’s Preseason All-America Third Team. A native of Chapin, S.C., Starke led the team with a stroke average of 70.27 in 2014-15, which is the lowest for a single season in school history. He garnered second-team All-America honors by both PING and Golfweek and was a first-team PING All-Southeast Region and All-SEC selection. He finished 16th or better in 10 of 12 events, including one tournament win, and matched the school record for top-five finishes in a season with six. He placed 16th at the NCAA Championship with a 72-hole total of 289 (+1).

For more information on the Porsche European Open, visit the tournament’s official website.