Gamecocks Finish Ninth at Augusta Invitational

April 6, 2014

Results

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The South Carolina men’s golf team carded a final-round 285 (-3) on Sunday at Forest Hills Golf Club to climb three spots up the leaderboard to finish in ninth place at the Augusta Invitational.

The Gamecocks wrapped up the weekend with a 54-hole total of 869 (+5) to move inside the top 10, snapping their streak of seven-straight top-three finishes, which was a school record. South Carolina’s score of 285 was the fourth lowest round of the day and just the fifth under par.

Sophomore Matt NeSmith was the highest Gamecock on the leaderboard as he finished 11th with a total of 213 (-3). A native of North Augusta, S.C., NeSmith shot a final-round 71 (-1), which included six birdies and five bogeys.

Junior Will Murphy turned in a 75 (+3) on Sunday to finish tied for 26th with a total of 218 (+2). Murphy tallied one birdie, two bogeys and a double bogey on the afternoon.

Junior Caleb Sturgeon, sophomore Will Starke and freshman Ben Dietrich all finished tied for 45th with a total of 222 (+6).

Sturgeon played his best golf of the weekend as he posted a 1-under 71 on Sunday. The Laurens, S.C., native recorded four birdies and three bogeys on the day.

Starke fired the low round of the day for the Gamecocks as he shot a 2-under 70, which included an eagle on the par-5 11th, two birdies and a double bogey.

Dietrich carded a 73 (+1), tallying four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

UCF claimed the team title with a 54-hole total of 845 (-19). Texas took second with a total of 847 (-17), followed by Virginia Tech (850), Illinois (852) and Baylor (861). The Gamecocks finished ahead of four teams ranked in the Golfstat Top 50, including rival Clemson. The Tigers finished last with a total of 889 (+25). UCF’s Greg Eason won medalist honors with a total of 205 (-11).

The Gamecocks will begin postseason play on April 25-27 at the SEC Championship. The 54-hole event will be held at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Ga.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS11. Matt NeSmith (3)        74-68-71=213 (-3)T26. Will Murphy (4)     74-69-75=218 (+2)T45. Caleb Sturgeon (1)       76-75-71=222 (+6)T45. Will Starke (2)     76-76-70=222 (+6)T45. Ben Dietrich (5)       77-72-73=222 (+6)
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS1. UCF              287-277-282=846 (-18)2. Texas            284-280-283=847 (-17)3. Virginia Tech        280-285-285=850 (-14)4. Illinois             288-281-283=852 (-12)5. Baylor           282-291-288=861 (-3)6. Houston          282-289-295=866 (+2)7. Purdue           292-283-292=867 (+3)8. GRU Augusta          292-285-291=868 (+4)9. South Carolina        300-284-285=869 (+5)T10. New Mexico         295-286-291=872 (+8)T10. Tennessee          296-283-293=872 (+8)12. Coastal Carolina        291-293-298=882 (+18)13. TCU             293-299-291=883 (+19)14. S. Carolina-Aiken       304-293-288=885 (+21)15. Clemson             284-294-311=889 (+25)