March 29, 2015

Results

AWENDAW, S.C. — The fifth-ranked South Carolina men’s golf team got off to another strong start on Sunday at Bulls Bay Golf Club, firing an opening-round 280 (-8) at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate.

The Gamecocks, who have finished in the top five in seven-straight tournaments and have won four, are in second place and trail tournament leader Missouri by three strokes. The Tigers lead the field after shooting a 277 (-11). Coastal Carolina is in third with a total of 282 (-6), followed by New Mexico (284) and Auburn (285).

Four of the five Gamecocks wrapped up the day under par. Juniors Matt NeSmith and Will Starke led the way as each shot a 3-under 69 to finish the round in a tie for seventh. NeSmith tallied five birdies and just two bogeys on the afternoon, while Starke recorded six birdies, a bogey and a double bogey.

Senior Caleb Sturgeon and sophomore Ben Dietrich, who is playing in his first tournament this spring, each turned in a 1-under 71 to get into the clubhouse in a tie for 15th. Sturgeon recorded three birdies and two bogeys, and Dietrich had two birdies and just one bogey.

Rounding out the lineup, senior Will Murphy is in a tie for 32nd after shooting 1-over 73.

There is a four-way tie atop the individual leaderboard, as Auburn’s Matt Gilchrest, Coastal Carolina’s Andrew Dorn, New Mexico’s Gavin Green and Missouri’s Jacob Fair all carded a 67 (-5) on Sunday.

Round Changer
The Gamecocks combined to shoot 6-under on the back nine, including 4-under on the final three holes.

Notable
• The Gamecocks entered the tournament ranked No. 13 in the nation in par-5 scoring and had another stellar day on the par-5s on Sunday, playing them at 7-under for the round.
• Carolina has shot under par in 11 of its last 12 rounds.
• The Gamecocks are second in the field in birdies with 20.
• Dietrich’s 1-under 71 matches his season-low round.
• Starke has shot in the 60s in 17 of his last 21 rounds.

Quotable
South Carolina head coach Bill McDonald
“We played a very solid round today in some pretty breezy conditions. I thought we did a really good job of staying patient for most of the day, and we were able to close with a few birdies. I think having our high round be 73 says a lot about how well this team is playing right now. Tomorrow’s round is important to keep our momentum and give us a chance at the title going into the final round.”

Up Next
The Gamecocks will tee off in the second round on Monday beginning at 10:40 a.m. and will be paired with Missouri and Coastal Carolina. Live scoring will be available at golfstatresults.com.