Gamecocks Ninth After Two Rounds at NCAA Championship

May 25, 2014

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The South Carolina men’s golf team shot 292 (+12) in the second round of the NCAA Championship on Sunday at Prairie Dunes Country Club and will head into Monday’s final round of stroke play in ninth place.

The Gamecocks have a 36-hole total of 564 (+4) and are just one stroke back of UCLA for eighth place. The Bruins closed out Sunday with a total of 563 (+3). The top eight teams at the end of the third round will advance to match play on Tuesday. The fourth round of stroke play that was originally scheduled for Monday for the top 40 individuals and ties has been canceled in an effort to get all 30 teams through 54 holes of stroke play.

“It was an interesting day to say the least,” South Carolina head coach Bill McDonald said. “We had much more difficult playing conditions, and most of our guys struggled. Will Murphy and Caleb (Sturgeon) really saved us, and now we have a great chance to compete for a final eight spot tomorrow. I’m proud of how well the guys are handling the weather delays and all of the adversity. This team just doesn’t quit.”

Sturgeon posted a 1-over 71 to remain in the top 10 in a tie for eighth with a total of 137 (-3). No Gamecock has ever finished better than ninth at the NCAA Championship. He recorded two bogeys on the front side to make the turn at 2-over but battled back on the back nine to get back to even with birdies on No. 3 and No. 7. However, he made bogey on No. 8 and par on the ninth to get into the clubhouse at 1-over.

Murphy produced the low round of the day for the Gamecocks, shooting a 1-under 69. He will head into the final round in a tie for 18th with a total of 139 (-1). A native of Columbia, S.C., Murphy began the day on the par-3 10th and sank a 15-foot birdie putt to get to red numbers for the tournament. However, he gave the stroke back with a bogey on No. 11. After making par on the next two holes, he birdied the par-4 14th and then reeled off 10 straight pars. He recorded his final birdie of the afternoon on the par-5 seventh to get to 2-under but bogeyed the next hole to finish the day at 1-under.

Sophomore Matt NeSmith turned in a 4-over 74 to wrap up the round in a tie for 136th with a total of 151 (+11). He recorded one birdie and five bogeys for his round.

Sophomore Will Starke shot a 78 (+8) and is tied for 50th with a total of 142 (+2). Rounding out the lineup, freshman Ben Dietrich carded an 80 (+10) to finish the round in a tie for 138th with a total of 152 (+12).

Stanford has the lead heading into the final round with a total of 548 (-12), followed by Alabama (552), Oklahoma State (556), LSU (557), Georgia Tech (559), SMU (560) and Oklahoma (560). Stanford’s Cameron Wilson holds the individual lead with a total of 134 (-6).

The Gamecocks are scheduled to tee off on Monday beginning at 1:40 p.m. CDT off the 10th tee and will be paired with Oklahoma and UCLA. Live scoring will be available at golfstatresults.com. The Golf Channel will also have live coverage beginning at 4 p.m. CDT.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST8. Caleb Sturgeon (2)        66-71=137 (-3)T18. Will Murphy (5)     70-69=139 (-1)T50. Will Starke (1)     64-78=142 (+2)T136. Matt NeSmith (3)      77-74=151 (+11)T138. Ben Dietrich (4)      72-80=152 (+12)
TEAM STANDING1. Stanford             281-267=548 (-12)2. Alabama          274-278=552 (-8)3. Oklahoma State       277-279=556 (-4)4. LSU              279-278=557 (-3)5. Georgia Tech         277-282=559 (-1)T6. SMU             275-285=560 (E)T6. Oklahoma            273-287=560 (E)8. UCLA             279-284=563 (+3)9. South Carolina        272-292=564 (+4)10. Illinois            285-280=565 (+5)T11. Auburn             274-292=566 (+6)T11. Vanderbilt         281-285=566 (+6)T11. Washington         279-287=566 (+6)T14. Texas          289-278=567 (+7)T14. UAB            282-285=567 (+7)16. California          279-289=568 (+8)17. Houston             284-285=569 (+9)18. Missouri            283-289=572 (+12)19. Georgia             286-287=573 (+13)20. Kentucky            288-286=574 (+14)T21. Purdue             286-289=575 (+15)T21. Georgia State      285-290=575 (+15)23. Iowa State          278-299=577 (+17)24. Arkansas            292-286=578 (+18)25. Oregon          284-297=581 (+21)26. Texas A&M           296-288=584 (+24)27. Florida State       286-301=587 (+27)28. Kennesaw State      294-294=588 (+28)29. Southern California     296-298=594 (+34)30. Virginia Tech       294-301=595 (+35)