Jan. 29, 2015

Live Scoring

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina senior Will Murphy, juniors Matt NeSmith and Will Starke and freshman Keenan Huskey are set to compete at the prestigious Jones Cup Invitational on Friday at Ocean Forest Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Ga.

The 54-hole event runs through Sunday and features a field of 84 of the best amateur golfers in the world. A total of 13 countries will be represented this weekend. The winner will receive a sponsor’s exemption to the PGA Tour’s 2015 McGladrey Classic.

Murphy, NeSmith and Starke all received invitations from the Jones Cup Committee, while Huskey was one of five golfers in the field to qualify for the event.

A native of Columbia, S.C., Murphy played in three events for the Gamecocks in the fall, with his best finish being a tie for eighth showing to help lead Carolina to the Carpet Capital Collegiate title. He had a spectacular year playing in amateur events on his way to being named the 2014 South Carolina Golf Association Player of the Year. He captured two prestigious amateur titles, winning the Azalea Invitational last March and the Sunnehanna Amateur in June.

NeSmith is making his fourth-straight appearance at the Jones Cup Invitational. His best finish was a tie for fourth showing in 2013. A native of North Augusta, S.C., NeSmith played in all four fall events for Carolina, recording three top-20 finishes and posting a stroke average of 71.

Starke is coming of an outstanding fall season in which he finished in the top 20 in all four events, including three top-five finishes, and led the team with a stroke average of 70. He tied for fourth at the Carpet Capital Collegiate to help lead the Gamecocks to the title. He also finished runner-up at the DICK’S Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup and tied for fifth at the Camden Collegiate Invitational.

Huskey played in one event in the fall for Carolina, finishing tied for 39th at the Camden Collegiate Invitational to help the team win the tournament title.

Starke will be the first Gamecock on the course on Friday as he is slated to tee off at 9 a.m. NeSmith will tee off at 9:10, followed by Murphy (9:30) and Huskey (10:10). Live scoring will be available all three days through GOLFSTAT.