Feb. 21, 2015

Results

HUMBLE, Texas — The ninth-ranked South Carolina men’s golf team matched its lowest round of the season on Saturday, firing a 13-under 275 to move into first place at the Bayou City Collegiate Championship at the Golf Club of Houston.

The Gamecocks, who started the second round on Friday before play was suspended, hold a 10-shot lead over Sam Houston State with a 36-hole total of 565 (-11). The Bearkats are in second with a total of 575 (-1) after shooting a 280 (-8) Saturday. Arkansas is in third with a total of 576 (E), followed by Charlotte (579) and Baylor (582). Carolina will look to win its third team title of the season on Sunday to become the fifth team in school history to accomplish the feat, including last year’s squad.

Juniors Will Starke, Sean Kelly and Matt NeSmith turned in flawless performances to lead the charge, playing bogey-free golf to shoot a combined 14-under.

A native of Chapin, S.C., Starke bounced back from a 78 (+6) on Friday to post a season-low 66 (-6) on Saturday to move into a tie for 12th with a total of 144 (E). Kelly carded a career-low 5-under 67 to climb into a tie for third with a total of 141 (-3). He trails Arkansas’ Kolton Crawford by two strokes. Crawford leads the tournament with a total of 139 (-5). NeSmith shot a 3-under 69 to position himself in the top 10 in a tie for eighth with a total of 143 (-1).

Freshman Keenan Huskey, who is playing as an individual, had another solid day, shooting a career-low 2-under 70. Huskey is tied for fifth with a total of 142 (-2).

Seniors Will Murphy and Caleb Sturgeon are also in position for top-20 finishes. Murphy shot a 75 on Saturday and is tied for 12th with a total of 144 (E). Sturgeon is tied for 21st with a total of 146 (+2) after shooting a second-round 73.

Round Changer
Starke, Kelly and NeSmith helped the Gamecocks build an 10-stroke cushion heading into the final round by playing bogey-free golf, combining to shoot 14-under.

Key Stat
After recording 17 bogeys or worse and 12 birdies in the first round, the Gamecocks tallied just eight bogeys or worse and 19 birdies in the second round.

Notable
• The Gamecocks’ round of 275 matches their season low round. Carolina also shot a 275 in the final round of the Camden Collegiate Invitational.
• Starke, Kelly and NeSmith all played bogey-free rounds, combining to shoot 14-under.
• Kelly’s round of 67 (-5) is a career low.
• Huskey posted a career-low 70 (-2).
• Starke’s round of 66 is a season low.
• The Gamecocks lead the tournament in par-4 scoring (4.01, +1) and par-5 scoring (4.73, -11).
• Carolina is tied for the lead in pars (123) and ranks second in birdies (31).

Quotable
South Carolina head coach Bill McDonald
“We played extremely well today, and I couldn’t be more proud of how our guys came out ready to go mentally this morning. Will Starke, Sean Kelly and Matt NeSmith really played lights out. We are looking forward to tomorrow’s final round.”

Up Next
The Gamecocks will tee off in the third round on Sunday beginning with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. ET. Live scoring will be available through Golfstat.