March 18, 2012

STATESBORO, Ga. — The South Carolina men’s golf team shot a final-round 294 (+6) on Sunday to finish in eighth place at the Chris Schenkel Invitational.

The Gamecocks posted a three-day total of 864 (E) at Forest Heights Country Club, which is their lowest 54-hole score at a par-72 course this season.

Junior Dykes Harbin and senior Wesley Bryan led the way for Carolina with rounds of 71 (-1) and 73 (+1), respectively. Harbin turned in a solid front nine as he made the turn at 3-under, but a double bogey on the 10th dropped him back to 1-under. He recorded two birdies and two bogeys on the next four holes and played even the rest of the way to close out the day at 1-under, finishing the tournament in a tie for 31st with a three-round total of 217 (+1). Bryan produced one birdie, two bogeys and 15 pars to end the tournament in a tie for 21st with a score of 215 (-1).

Freshman Caleb Sturgeon also tied for 21st after posting a 3-over 75. He birdied the first hole of the day but made two double bogeys and all pars the rest of the way to close out the tournament with a total of 215.

Freshmen Will Murphy and Sean Kelly carded rounds of 78 (+6) and 75 (+3), respectively, to tie for 48th with a score of 221 (+5). Sophomore Blaine Woodruff, who played as an individual, also finished in a tie for 48th after shooting a 2-over 74.

Third-ranked Alabama shot a final-round 280 (-8) to pull away for the win with a tournament record of 817 (-47). Virginia finished second with a score of 839, followed by Auburn (847), Florida (847) and UAB (855). Virginia’s Ben Kohles claimed medalist honors after firing a 67 (-5) on Sunday, taking his three-round total to 198 (-18).

The Gamecocks return to action in the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate on March 25-27. The 54-hole event will be played at Bulls Bay Golf Club in Awendaw, S.C.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T21. Wesley Bryan 72-70-73=215 (-1)
T21. Caleb Sturgeon 73-67-75=215 (-1)
T31. Dykes Harbin 75-71-71=217 (+1)
T48. Will Murphy 74-69-78=221 (+5)
T48. Sean Kelly 74-72-75=221 (+5)
* T48. Blaine Woodruff 76-71-74=221 (+5)
*Played as an individual

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Alabama 268-269-280=817 (-47)
2. Virginia 283-275-281=839 (-25)
T3. Auburn 282-277-288=847 (-17)
T3. Florida 280-285-282=847 (-17)
5. UAB 286-279-290=855 (-9)
6. Mississippi 280-286-292=858 (-6)
7. 15 North Florida 286-285-291=862 (-2)
8. South Carolina 293-277-294=864 (E)
9. Kentucky 286-286-298=870 (+6)
10. Vanderbilt 304-289-282=875 (+11)
11. Georgia Southern 296-292-290=878 (+14)
12. Notre Dame 289-293-300=882 (+18)
13. Minnesota 300-284-300=884 (+20)
14. North Carolina State 301-286-298=885 (+21)