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Gamecocks Three Shots Off Lead at Carpet Capital Collegiate
Men's Golf  . 

Gamecocks Three Shots Off Lead at Carpet Capital Collegiate

Sept. 6, 2014

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ROCKY FACE, Ga. — Behind a 5-under 67 from junior Will Starke, the 12th-ranked South Carolina men’s golf team shot a 281 (-7) on Saturday afternoon in the second round of the Carpet Capital Collegiate at The Farm Golf Club.

The Gamecocks, whose round of 281 is their lowest ever at the event in 24 appearances, are in seventh place and just three shots off the lead with a 36-hole total of 572 (-4). Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Kennesaw State and Georgia Tech are in a five-way tie for the lead with a total of 569 (-7).

Starke climbed 18 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for sixth with a total of 140 (-4). Junior Sean Kelly, who is playing as an individual, and senior Will Murphy each carded a 2-under 70. Kelly moved into a tie for 20th with a total of 143 (-1), while Murphy is tied for 29th with a total of 145 (+1).

Senior Caleb Sturgeon and sophomore Ben Dietrich are tied for 29th with a total of 145 (+1) after shooting a 72 (E) and 74 (+2), respectively. Rounding out the lineup, junior Matt NeSmith is tied for 39th after posting an even-par 72 on Saturday.

Georgia Tech’s Ollie Schniederjans shot an 8-under 64 to take the individual lead with a total of 136 (-8).

Round Changer
After making the turn a 1-under, Starke fired a bogey-free 32 on the back nine, including two birdies and an eagle, to get into the clubhouse at 5-under on the day.

Key Stat
Between the five golfers in the lineup, the Gamecocks recorded nine birdies and two eagles on the back nine compared to just two bogeys and a double bogey.

Notables
• The Gamecocks’ round of 281 is their lowest ever at the event in 24 appearances.
• South Carolina’s round was the fourth lowest of the day.
• Starke’s 67 is a season low and is his fourth round of par or better in five rounds this season.
• Starke (par-5 12th) and Sturgeon (par-5 15th) both recorded an eagle on Saturday. Starke is the only golfer in the field with two eagles as he also made one in the first round.
• Starke, NeSmith and Murphy were all bogey free on the back nine.
• Starke ranks second in the field in par-5 scoring at 5-under with a stroke average of 4.38.

Quotable
South Carolina head coach Bill McDonald
“I’m really proud of how the guys came out today and posted a very solid round. The golf course was softer after yesterday’s rain, and we took advantage of the conditions. It looks like we are going to need another great round tomorrow to have a chance at the title.”

Up Next
The Gamecocks are slated to tee off in the third round of the Carpet Capital Collegiate on Sunday beginning at 7:30 a.m. and will be paired with Wake Forest and Chattanooga. Live scoring will be available at golfstatresults.com.

South Carolina ResultsT6. Will Starke (3)      73-67=140 (-4)T29. Caleb Sturgeon (1)       73-72=145 (+1)T29. Ben Dietrich (2)       71-74=145 (+1)T29. Will Murphy (5)     75-70=145 (+1)T39. Matt NeSmith (4)       74-72=146 (+2)*T20. Sean Kelly      73-70=143 (-1)*Playing as an individual
Team StandingsT1. Auburn 294-275=569 (-7)T1. Alabama 286-283=569 (-7)T1. LSU 282-287=569 (-7)T1. Kennesaw State 281-288=569 (-7)T1. Georgia Tech 293-276=569 (-7)6. Clemson 287-284=571 (-5)7. South Carolina 291-281=572 (-4)T8. Wake Forest 286-287=573 (-3)T8. Chattanooga 291-282=573 (-3)10. Tennessee 296-280=576 (E)11. North Carolina 286-291=577 (+1)12. North Florida 300-292=592 (+16)13. Middle Tennessee St. 300-299=599 (+23)14. Florida 312-288=600 (+24)