Gamecocks, Starke Claim Titles at Rain-Shortened Seahawk Intercollegiate

March 17, 2014

Results

WILMINGTON, N.C. — The South Carolina men’s golf team won its third tournament title of the season by 19 strokes on Monday after the final round of the Seahawk Intercollegiate was canceled due to inclement weather at the Country Club of Landfall.

The Gamecocks finished the event with a two-round total of 560 (-16), which is the third-best 36-hole total in school history. Carolina becomes just the fourth Gamecock team to win three events in a season, joining the 1981-82, 2003-04 and 2008-09 squads. The win is also the Gamecocks’ sixth-consecutive finish of third or better, matching the 1998-99 team’s streak of six-straight top-three finishes for the best stretch in school history.

Sophomore Will Starke is also bringing home some hardware as he claimed is first collegiate title with a total of 137 (-7), including a career-low 64 in the opening round on Sunday. Starke’s total is the fifth-lowest 36-hole total in school history. He finished one shot ahead of Davidson’s Sam Echikson, who had a 36-hole total of 138 (-6).

The remainder of the Gamecocks in the lineup recorded top-20 finishes. Sophomore Matt NeSmith earned his sixth career top-five finish, claiming third with a total of 139 (-5). Junior Will Murphy also placed in the top-five, finishing fourth with a total of 140 (-4). Freshman Ben Dietrich tied for 10th with a total of 144 (E), while junior Caleb Sturgeon tied for 18th with a score of 146 (+2).

Playing as an individual, junior Blaine Woodruff finished tied for 45th with a total of 153 (+9).

ETSU finished runner-up with a total of 579 (+3), followed by Ohio State (581), Louisville (581) and Davidson (586).

The Gamecocks will return to tournament play on March 23-25 at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate. The 54-hole event will be held at Bulls Bay Golf Club in Awendaw, S.C.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS1. Will Starke (1)       64-73=137 (-7)3. Matt NeSmith (2)         70-69=139 (-5)4. Will Murphy (4)       69-71=140 (-4)T10. Ben Dietrich (5)       70-74=144 (E)T18. Caleb Sturgeon (3)   70-76=146 (+2)*T45. Blaine Woodruff        71-82=153 (+9)*Playing as an individual
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS1. South Carolina       273-287=560 (-16)2. ETSU             279-300=579 (+3)T3. Ohio State          282-299=581 (+5)T3. Louisville          278-303=581 (+5)5. Davidson College         278-308=586 (+10)6. Campbell             286-301=587 (+11)7. UNCW             287-309=596 (+20)8. Wisconsin            292-305=597 (+21)9. Elon             300-299=599 (+23)10. Army            293-314=607 (+31)11. East Carolina       298-312=610 (+34)12. Navy            307-315=622 (+46)13. Delaware            308-327=635 (+59)