March 15, 2015

Results

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.