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March 15, 2015

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The eighth-ranked South Carolina men’s golf team posted a final-round 281 (-7) on Sunday at the Seminole Intercollegiate but came up short of winning its fourth-straight tournament, finishing third with a total of 847 (-17) at Southwood Golf Club.

The Gamecocks wrapped up the event four strokes back of tournament champion Florida State. The second-ranked Seminoles fired a 17-under 271 on the final day of its home tournament to win with a total of 843 (-21). East Tennessee State finished runner-up with a total of 846 (-18).

Carolina junior Will Starke delivered another stellar round, carding a bogey-free 66 (-6), his eighth straight round in the 60s. A native of Chapin, S.C., Starke finished third with a total of 203 (-13), which is tied for the fifth-lowest 54-hole total in school history. The top-five finish is Starke’s sixth this season, which moves him into a tie for first for the most in a single season in Carolina history. It’s also his 11th career top-five finish, which is tied for the third most in school history with George Bryan IV (2006-10).

Junior Sean Kelly recorded his fourth top-20 finish this season as he turned in a final-round 74 (+2) to finish tied for 18th with a total of 213 (-3).

Junior Matt NeSmith and senior Caleb Sturgeon also carded red numbers for the Gamecocks. NeSmith shot a 2-under 70, including birdies on his final three holes, to wrap up the weekend in a tie for 23rd with a total of 214 (-2). Sturgeon carded a solid 71 (-1) to finish in 54th place with a total of 221 (+5).

Rounding out the lineup, senior Will Murphy tied for 62nd with a total of 224 (+8) after shooting a 78 (+6) on Sunday.

Seventh-ranked Georgia Tech finished fourth with a total of 848 (-16), while No. 23 Virginia rounded out the top five with a total of 852 (-12).

East Tennessee State’s Gudmundur Kristjansson claimed medalist honors with a total of 199 (-17).

Round Changer
Starke, NeSmith and Sturgeon all carded rounds under par to give the Gamecocks a chance, recording rounds of 66, 70 and 71, respectively. The trio combined to play the final three holes at 4-under.

Notable
• The Gamecocks have finished in the top five in six straight events and in 15 of their last 18 tournaments dating back to last season.
• Carolina has shot under par in seven straight rounds, including a 281 (-7) on Sunday.
• The Gamecocks finished tied for first on the weekend in eagles with three. Starke tied for the tournament lead with two eagles, including one on Sunday on the par-4 11th.
• Carolina finished second in par-5 scoring with an average of 4.68 (-19).
• Starke’s third-place finish is his sixth top-five finish this season, which is tied for the most in a single season in school history with Kyle Thompson (1998-99).
• The top-five finish is also the 11th of Starke’s career, which is tied for third most in school history with George Bryan IV (2006-10).
• Starke has shot in the 60s in 15 of his last 17 rounds, including eight straight rounds.
• Kelly finished tied for 18th, his fourth top-20 finish this season.

Quotable
South Carolina head coach Bill McDonald

“We played well today, but Florida State had an incredible round. They showed why they’re ranked No. 2 in the country. Will Starke had another great finish and he has really carried us this spring. Overall, I’m proud of how we played and I think the team handled two events in one week very well.”

Up Next
The Gamecocks will return to action on March 23-24 at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational. The 54-hole event will be contested at Floridian National Golf Club in Palm City, Fla.

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
Pos. Name R1 R2 R3 Total To Par
3. Will Starke 68 69 66 203 -13
T18. Sean Kelly 72 67 74 213 -3
T23. Matt NeSmith 72 72 70 214 -2
54. Caleb Sturgeon 75 75 71 221 +5
T62. Will Murphy 73 73 78 224 +8
TEAM STANDINGS
Pos. Team R1 R2 R3 Total To Par
1. Florida State 284 288 271 843 -21
2. East Tennessee State 276 288 282 846 -18
3. South Carolina 285 281 281 847 -17
4. Georgia Tech 287 280 281 848 -16
5. Virginia 287 281 284 852 -12
6. Louisville 281 287 287 855 -9
7. Florida 289 283 286 858 -6
8. South Florida 286 290 283 859 -5
9. Mercer 282 287 292 861 -3
10. James Madison 284 291 290 865 +1
11. Jacksonville 289 287 293 869 +5
12. Troy 289 291 290 870 +6
13. Penn State 293 291 291 875 +11
14. Illinois State 285 305 300 890 +26
15. Cincinnati 301 291 300 892 +28
16. Western Kentucky 296 298 306 900 +36
17. Georgia Washington 307 302 301 910 +46