Sept. 4, 2014

Tournament Notes | Live Scoring

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The 12th-ranked South Carolina men’s golf team will play for the second straight week as it is set to tee off at the 26th Carpet Capital Collegiate on Friday.

The 54-hole tournament runs through Sunday at the par-72, 7,012-yard layout at The Farm Golf Club in Rocky Face, Ga.

The Gamecocks opened the season last week with a sixth-place finish at The Carmel Cup at the historic Pebble Beach Golf Links in a field that featured five teams ranked in the top 20 in the final Golfstat Rankings a year ago. South Carolina assistant coach Alex Hamilton said the competition will be just as tough this weekend with another strong field at the Carpet Capital Collegiate.

“The Farm is always one of the elite events as well,” Hamilton said. “We really open our scheduled with three very elite tournaments. That’s a testament to our kids and they way they’ve played here over the last few years. They’ve gotten us into that discussion of being an elite program. Any time we get to tee it up in an elite tournament the guys are always excited and looking forward to competing.”

Carolina will play with the same lineup it had a week ago. After finishing tied for 10th at The Carmel Cup, senior Caleb Sturgeon will occupy the No. 1 spot. Junior Will Starke and sophomore Ben Dietrich finished tied for 13th and tied for 15th, respectively, last week and will play at No. 2 and No. 3 this week. Junior Matt NeSmith and senior Will Murphy round out the lineup at No. 4 and No. 5. Junior Sean Kelly will be playing this week as an individual.

This year marks the 26th playing of the Carpet Capital Collegiate. South Carolina is making its 24th appearance at The Farm, including its ninth straight trip. The Gamecocks turned in their best finish at the event in 2007, finishing tied for first. Two Gamecocks have medaled at the event, as Kyle Thompson won in 2000 and David Seawell took first in 1994.

The Gamecocks finished 10th at last year’s Carpet Capital Collegiate with a 54-hole total of 888 (+24). Starke led the way, finishing tied for fifth with a total of 214 (-2). Sturgeon (T-41st), NeSmith (T-45th), Murphy (T-48th) and Blaine Woodruff (T-62nd) were also in the lineup last year.

This year’s 14-team field will again be one of the toughest the Gamecocks face this season. Nine of the teams finished last year ranked in the Golfstat Top 50. Defending national champion Alabama headlines the field and will be joined by SEC foes Auburn, Florida, LSU and Tennessee. The ACC will be represented by rival Clemson, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Wake Forest. Middle Tennessee State, Kennesaw State, North Florida and Chattanooga round out the field. The Gamecocks had a 17-16 head-to-head record against teams in this field last season.

Carolina will tee off in the first round on Friday beginning at 8:15 a.m. and will be paired with Auburn and Clemson. Live scoring will be available all three days through GOLFSTAT.