Sep 6, 2013
ROCKY FACE, Ga. — The South Carolina men’s golf team posted a 302 (+14) on Friday in the first round of the Carpet Capital Collegiate at The Farm Golf Club to officially open the 2013-14 season.
The Gamecocks wrapped up the day in 12th place with two rounds left to play. No. 4 Georgia Tech leads the tournament after shooting an 8-under 288. Seven strokes separate South Carolina and the top five, as North Florida sits in fifth place with a total of 295 (+7).
Sophomore Will Starke carded the low round of the day for South Carolina, shooting a 1-over 73 to finish the round in a tie for 17th. A native of Chapin, S.C., Starke carded an even-par 36 on the front side and was 1-under heading to the 18th tee box. However, he double bogeyed the par-4 18th to close out the day at 1-over. Starke recorded five birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey for his round.
Junior Caleb Sturgeon turned in a 3-over 75 and is in a tie for 33rd. After carding a 3-over 39 on the front side, Sturgeon had a solid back nine on his way to shooting an even-par 36. Sturgeon tallied three birdies and six bogeys on the afternoon.
Sophomore Matt NeSmith, a PING Honorable Mention All-American last season, shot a 4-over 76 on Friday to end the round in a tie for 43rd. NeSmith recorded a pair of birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.
Juniors Will Murphy and Blaine Woodruff each shot a 6-over 78 and are in a tie for 58th. Murphy carded two birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey, while Woodruff finished the round with four birdies, four bogeys and three double bogeys.
North Carolina is in second with a score of 290 (+2), followed by Georgia (291), Clemson (294) and North Florida (295). Georgia Tech’s Ollie Schniederjans sits atop the individual leaderboard after firing a 5-under 67.
Second-round play is set to begin on Saturday at 9 a.m. Live scoring will be available here.
SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST17. Will Starke (3) 73 (+1)T33. Caleb Sturgeon (1) 75 (+3)T43. Matt NeSmith (2) 76 (+4)T58. Will Murphy (4) 78 (+6)T58. Blaine Woodruff (5) 78 (+6)
TEAM STANDINGS1. Georgia Tech 280 (-8)2. North Carolina 290 (+2)3. Georgia 291 (+3)4. Clemson 294 (+6)5. North Florida 295 (+7)T6. LSU 297 (+9)T6. Kennesaw State 297 (+9)T8. Middle Tennessee St. 298 (+10)T8. Texas 298 (+10)10. Auburn 299 (+11)11. Wake Forest 301 (+13)12. South Carolina 302 (+14)T13. Tennessee 306 (+18)T13. Chattanooga 306 (+18)