March 10, 2015

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AIKEN, S.C — The eighth-ranked South Carolina men’s golf team carded a final-round 279 (-1) to claim a one-stroke victory over rival Clemson at the Palmetto Intercollegiate on Tuesday at the historic Palmetto Golf Club.

The Gamecocks entered the final round with a one-shot lead and went on to win their fourth tournament title of the season with a total of 825 (-15) after Clemson (826) was unable to make up the stroke by shooting an identical 279. The four wins match the school record for most wins in a single season at Carolina. The win is also the Gamecocks’ third straight tournament title, which is a school record.

Gamecock junior Will Starke also took home some hardware as he claimed medalist honors by a stroke over Georgia Southern’s Scott Wolfes and Clemson’s Cody Proveaux with a career-low total of 201 (-9), which is tied for the second-lowest 54-hole total in school history. Starke fired a final-round 67 (-3) for his fifth straight round in the 60s. He has now shot in the 60s in 12 of his last 14 rounds.

The win is the second of Starke’s career and is also his fifth top-five finish this season, moving him into a tie for second for most top-five finishes in a single season at Carolina.

Senior Caleb Sturgeon just missed a top-10 finish as he wrapped up the week in a tie for 11th with a season-low total of 206 (-4). Sturgeon carded an even-par 70 on Tuesday to earn his third top-20 finish of the season and 17th of his career.

Junior Matt NeSmith posted a 1-over 71 to head into the clubhouse in a tie for 21st with a total of 210, while senior Will Murphy tied for 29th with a total of 213 (+3) after shooting a final-round 71. Rounding out the lineup, junior Sean Kelly turned in a 71 to finish the tournament tied for 38th with a total of 215 (-1).

Virginia and Kennesaw State finished tied for third with a total of 832 (-8), while GRU Augusta and Idaho tied for fifth with a total of 841 (+1).

Round Changer
The par-5 14th proved to be a key hole down the stretch. The Gamecocks played the hole at 7-under as a team, including eagles by Starke and Kelly. Clemson managed just two birdies and three pars on the hole.

Notable
• The win is Carolina’s fourth this season, which matches the school record for wins in a season. The Gamecocks join the 1990-91 and 2008-09 teams as the only squads in school history to win four tournaments in a season.
• The victory is also Carolina’s third-straight, which is a school record.
• Carolina’s total of 825 is the third lowest 54-hole total in school history.
• The win is the second of Starke’s career.
• Starke’s total of 201 (-9) is tied for the second lowest 54-hole total in school history, matching George Bryan IV’s total of 201 at the 2009 Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate.
• Starke now has five top-five finishes this season, moving him into a tie for second with David Seawell (1993-94), Carl Paulson (1992-93) and Webb Heintzelman (1983-84) for most top-five finishes in a single season at Carolina.
• Starke has shot in the 60s in 12 of his last 14 rounds.
• The top-20 finish is the 17th of Sturgeon’s career.
• All five Gamecocks posted at least one round in the 60s during the week.
• The Gamecocks led the tournament in par-3 scoring with an average of 3.03, playing the par-3s at 2-over.
• Carolina recorded the second most eagles on the week with three.

Quotable
South Carolina head coach Bill McDonald
“It was a great win for our program, and I’m so happy for Will Starke. We played some great golf at the end of the round, and it was an exciting tournament. Clemson played really well too, and we were fortunate to come out on top. This team just keeps finding a way. We’ve got a great group of guys who just never give up.”

Up Next
The Gamecocks have a short turnaround as they open play in the Seminole Intercollegiate on Friday. The 54-hole event runs through Sunday at Southwood Golf Club in Tallahassee, Fla.