April 17, 2015

Photo Gallery

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — The sixth-ranked South Carolina men’s golf team posted a 5-under 275 to finish the opening round of the SEC Championship in a tie for third on Friday at Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside Course.

The Gamecocks wrapped up the day in a tie with Auburn and trail defending SEC champion Alabama by six strokes. The Crimson Tide hold the lead after shooting an 11-under 269, while LSU is in second place with a total of 274 (-6). Carolina’s round of 275 is a school SEC Championship record.

Juniors Matt NeSmith and Will Starke came up big for the Gamecocks on Friday. NeSmith matched the school SEC Championship record with a bogey-free 65 (-5) to finish the round in a three-way tie for first with Arkansas’s Kolton Crawford and Alabama’s Robby Shelton. He recorded three birdies on the afternoon and drained an eagle putt on the par-5 15th. Starke isn’t far behind as he sits in fourth place after carding a 4-under 66, making just two bogeys and tallying four birdies and an eagle on No. 15 as well.

Seniors Caleb Sturgeon and Will Murphy each shot a 2-over 72 to finish the round in a tie for 39th. Sturgeon began the day on fire with three-straight birdies but played the final 15 holes at 5-over. Murphy finished his round with one birdie and three bogeys.

Rounding out the lineup, junior Sean Kelly turned in a 73 (+3) to head into the clubhouse in a tie for 47th.

Round Changer
NeSmith and Starke combined to shoot 9-under on the day to lead the Gamecocks. NeSmith’s 65 was bogey-free, while Starke made just two bogeys. NeSmith and Starke were two of only three golfers to eagle the par-5 15th.

Notable
• The Gamecocks’ round of 275 is a school SEC Championship record. The previous record was 276, which was recorded in the second round of the 2013 SEC Championship.
• Carolina has shot under par in 14 of its last 15 rounds.
• The Gamecocks led the field in par-5 scoring (4.40, -6).
• Carolina was the only team in the field with two eagles.
• NeSmith’s 65 matches his career low and ties the school SEC Championship record.
• NeSmith has carded five-straight rounds in the 60s.
• Starke’s 66 is his 18th round in the 60s this season.
• NeSmith and Starke were two of only three golfers to eagle the par-5 15th.

Quotable
South Carolina head coach Bill McDonald
“I think we played well. Alabama played great. They are six shots ahead of us. Will Starke and Matt NeSmith played some great golf. They really carried us. The other guys didn’t play poorly. It just didn’t quite go their way completely, but they are not far off. We are in a good position going into the weekend. The next two rounds should be exciting.”

Junior Matt NeSmith
“I played really well today and didn¹t make any dumb mistakes. I just tried to hit fairways and greens and make a few putts.”

On his eagle on No. 15
“It was actually kind of lucky. I didn¹t quite hit the shot I was trying to but it worked out really well.”

Up Next
The Gamecocks will tee off in the second round on Saturday beginning at 8:20 a.m. and will be paired with Vanderbilt and Arkansas. Live scoring will be available at golfstatresults.com.