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DALTON, Ga. — Senior Dykes Harbin fired a 3-under 69 and is in a tie for fifth place as he led the South Carolina men’s golf team in the opening round of the Carpet Capital Collegiate on Friday afternoon at The Farm Golf Club.

Harbin is just four shots back of Georgia’s T.J. Mitchell, who is in the lead after shooting a 7-under 65. As a team, the Gamecocks posted a 296 (+8) to finish the day in 13th place.

“Dykes played a very solid round today, and (freshman) Matt NeSmith looked really good as well,” South Carolina head coach Bill McDonald said. “A couple of our guys struggled, but overall I’m very excited about how our team looks and how they are responding to adversity.”

A native of Augusta, Ga., Harbin began his day on the 10th hole and played near flawless golf as he recorded just one bogey, which came on the par-4 14th. He made the turn at 1-under and birdied two out of his first three holes on the back nine before closing out the day with six straight pars.

NeSmith contributed a steady round of even-par 72 in his debut for the Gamecocks. A native of North Augusta, S.C., NeSmith will head into the second round in a tie for 22nd. He recorded 12 pars, three birdies and three bogeys on the day.

In his first action since last fall, junior Caulder Moore turned in a 3-over 75 and is in a tie for 43rd. Moore made the turn at 1-under but struggled on the back nine, making three bogeys and a double bogey to go along with one birdie and four pars.

Sophomores Caleb Sturgeon and Sean Kelly each shot an 80 (+8) and are tied for 73rd.

Georgia shot a 10-under 278 to take the first-round lead, followed by Alabama (284), LSU (286), Wake Forest (288) and Auburn (289). Defending national champion Texas is tied for 11th after posting a 293 (+5).

The Gamecocks will be paired with Tennessee and Kennesaw State for the second round and are slated to begin teeing off on Saturday at 9:12 a.m. Live scoring is available at golfstatresults.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T5. Dykes Harbin 69 (-3)
T22. Matt NeSmith 72 (E)
T43. Caulder Moore 75 (+3)
T73. Caleb Sturgeon 80 (+8)
T73. Sean Kelly 80 (+8)

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Georgia 278 (-10)
2. Alabama 284 (-4)
3. LSU 286 (-2)
4. Wake Forest 288 (E)
5. Auburn 289 (+1)
T6. North Florida 291 (+3)
T6. North Carolina 291 (+3)
T8. Chattanooga 292 (+4)
T8. Middle Tennessee St. 292 (+4)
T8. Clemson 292 (+4)
T11. Texas 293 (+5)
T11. Kennesaw State 293 (+5)
13. South Carolina 296 (+8)
14. Tennessee 299 (+11)
15. Georgia Tech 301 (+13)