Oct. 19, 2014

Results

CAMDEN, S.C. — The 10th-ranked South Carolina men’s golf team fired a final-round 275 (-5) on Sunday to win the inaugural Camden Collegiate Invitational by a stroke over Wofford at Camden Country Club.

The Gamecocks, who entered the day seven strokes back of Wofford, wrapped up the weekend with a 54-hole total of 847 (+7) to win their second tournament of the fall. It marks the second straight year Carolina has won two tournaments in the fall. The Terriers finished with a total of 848 (+8) to claim second, followed by Furman (865), Charleston Southern (867) and Radford (872).

Senior Caleb Sturgeon and juniors Matt NeSmith and Will Starke all carded rounds under par to lead the comeback. NeSmith carded the low round for the Gamecocks, shooting a 3-under 67 to finish tied for seventh with a total of 211 (+1). Sturgeon and Starke tied for fifth with a total of 210 (E) after shooting 68 and 69, respectively.

Senior Blaine Woodruff turned in a final-round 71 (+1) to tie for 26th with a total of 220 (+10), and freshman Keenan Huskey rounded out the lineup, finishing tied for 39th with a total of 223 (+13) after shooting a 73 (+3).

Playing as an individual, junior Sean Kelly recorded his first top-20 finish of the season as he tied for 20th with a total of 218 (+8) following a final-round 74. Sophomore Ben Dietrich and junior Brendan Gramley, who were also playing as individuals, finished tied for 23rd and tied for 80th, respectively. Dietrich shot a 71 to post a total of 219 (+9), while Gramley had a total of 243 (+33).

Wofford’s Brannan Hudson shot a 71 to claim medalist honors with a total of 201 (-9).

Round Changer
Sturgeon, Starke and NeSmith played the back nine at a combined 2-under to help the Gamecocks close strong. NeSmith shot an even-par 35 on the back side, while Sturgeon and Starke both shot 34 (-1).

Key Stat
As a team, the Gamecocks played the back nine at even par, while Wofford shot 8-over on the side.

Notable
• The tournament win was South Carolina’s 11th under head coach Bill McDonald. He has the most tournament wins all-time of record at South Carolina.
• The Gamecocks have won two tournaments in the fall for the second straight year.
• Carolina has finished fifth or better in 12 of their last 15 tournaments, including five wins.
• Sturgeon’s 68 (-2) was bogey free.
• Carolina led the tournament in par-4 scoring at +22 and pars with 180 and was tied for the lead in eagles with three.
• The Gamecocks recorded a round-high two eagles on Sunday, both by NeSmith.
• NeSmith recorded a tournament-best three eagles on the weekend.
• The top-five finish is the eighth of Starke’s career, moving him into a tie for fifth all-time at South Carolina in career top-five finishes.
• The top-10 finish is the 13th of NeSmith’s career, moving him to seventh on the Gamecocks’ career top-10 finishes list.
• Sturgeon moved into a tie for 10th on South Carolina’s all-time top-five finishes list with his fifth-career top-five showing.

Quotable
South Carolina head coach Bill McDonald
“It was a great round they played today. We were trailing Wofford just about the entire golf tournament it seems like. The guys played really well coming down the stretch and were able to sneak out a victory by one shot. It was a great college golf event. We had contributions from everybody. Today was one of the better rounds we have played all fall. Will Starke played well for us again and Caleb Sturgeon. Matt NeSmith made two eagles today. Everybody just fought hard. The golf course was set up really difficult, and the round we played was fortunately just good enough.”

Up Next
The Gamecocks will be back in action in the spring. Carolina opens its spring schedule at the Bayou City Collegiate Championships on Feb. 20-22 at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTST5. Caleb Sturgeon    69-73-68=210 (E)T5. Will Starke  73-68-69=210 (E)T7. Matt NeSmith    73-71-67=211 (+1)T26. Blaine Woodruff     77-72-71=220 (+10)T39. Keenan Huskey     73-77-73=223 (+13)*T20. Sean Kelly  72-72-74=218 (+8)*T23. Ben Dietrich  72-76-71=219 (+9)*T80. Brendan Gramley    84-77-82=243 (+33)*Played as an individual
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS1. South Carolina    288-284-275=847 (+7)2. Wofford      284-281-283=848 (+8)3. Furman       290-284-291=865 (+25)4. Charleston Southern  291-287-289=867 (+27)5. Radford      280-293-299=872 (+32)T6. Presbyterian    286-294-297=877 (+37)T6. Coastal Carolina    288-292-297=877 (+37)8. South Carolina-Aiken 291-286-303=880 (+40)T9. Gardner-Webb    296-285-301=882 (+42)T9. USC Upstate     295-290-297=882 (+42)11. Davidson        294-290-301=885 (+45)12. Francis Marion  289-293-304=886 (+46)13. Elon        303-295-297=895 (+55)14. Appalachian State   296-296-307=899 (+59)15. High Point      316-303-303=922 (+82)