June 8, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina rising senior Matt NeSmith and former Gamecock All-American Mark Silvers both won a sectional on Monday to qualify for the 115th U.S. Open Championship.

NeSmith claimed medalist honors at the sectional at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Ga., with a 36-hole total of 127 (-17), while Silvers qualified by winning the sectional at Northwood Club in Dallas, Texas, with a total of 131 (-9).

NeSmith left little doubt to whether he would be one of three golfers from the Hawks Ridge sectional to qualify, firing rounds of 63 and 64 to win by four strokes.

“Today was an unbelievable experience,” NeSmith said. “I couldn’t have played better. It’s an amazing feeling knowing I’m going to Chambers Bay to compete against the best in the world.”

Georgia’s Lee McCoy finished second with a total of 131 (-13) to earn a spot, while Roberto Castro secured the third spot with a total of 132 (-12).

A native of North Augusta, S.C., NeSmith recorded just two bogeys on the day. He carded a bogey-free 63 in the first round with nine birdies. He didn’t make a bogey until his 34th hole of the day as he bogeyed the par-3 16th and then bogeyed No. 17 before tallying a birdie on No. 18 to seal the win at 17-under. He finished the second round with an eagle, eight birdies and two bogeys.

Former Gamecock Dykes Harbin just missed earning a trip to the U.S. Open at the Hawks Ridge sectional, finishing tied for sixth with a total of 135 (-9).

In the sectional in Dallas, Silvers, who carded rounds of 66 (-4) and 65 (-5), was 5-under through 12 holes in the second round and was teetering on the cut line before he birdied four of his final six holes to vault to the top of the leaderboard. He finished one shot ahead of Cole Hammer, who had a total of 132 (-8). Matt Mabrey (134), Cody Gribble (134), Jason Allred (134) and Kyle Jones (134) also qualified for the U.S. Open out of the Dallas sectional.

In the sectional at The Bears Club in Jupiter, Fla., Gamecock rising senior Sean Kelly finished tied for 26th with a total of 152 (+8).

NeSmith and Silvers will be among the field of 156 golfers to play in the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay on June 18-21 in University Place, Wash.