Skip to main content
Partner logo
Mobile Icon Link Mobile Icon Link Mobile Icon Link Gamecocks+

March 21, 2016

9255061.jpeg

VALSPAR COLLEGIATE INVITATIONAL
Tournament Scores // Tournament Stats // Twitter // Facebook
GAMECOCK SCORECARDS
Will Starke
Round 1: 79
Round 2: 79
Round 3:
To Par: +16
Place: T73rd
Matt NeSmith
Round 1: 71
Round 2: 71
Round 3:
To Par: E
Place: 7th
Scott Stevens
Round 1: 71
Round 2: 73
Round 3:
To Par: +2
Place: T13th
Keenan Huskey
Round 1: 74
Round 2: 75
Round 3:
To Par: +7
Place: T35th
Will Miles
Round 1: 78
Round 2: 79
Round 3:
To Par: +15
Place: T69th
Team Standings
Pos. Team R1 R2 R3 Total
1. Texas 287 287 570 (+2)
2. LSU 286 294 580 (+12)
3. Oklahoma State 295 288 583 (+15)
4. Texas A&M 294 290 584 (+16)
5. USF 296 286 585 (+17)
6. Clemson 293 295 588 (+20)
T7. Houston 301 289 590 (+22)
T7. Illinois 295 295 590 (+22)
T9. South Carolina 294 298 592 (+24)
T9. Florida State 288 304 592 (+24)
11. Arkansas 298 297 595 (+27)
12. Kent State 294 302 596 (+28)
13. Georgia Tech 307 293 600 (+32)
14. Memphis 289 316 605 (+37)
15. Florida 309 302 611 (+43)
Tournament Quick Facts

Dates: March 21-22

Location: Palm City, Fla.

Course: Floridian National Golf Club

Par: 71

Yards: 6,999

PALM CITY, Fla. — The University of South Carolina Men’s Golf team is tied for ninth place after 36 holes at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational. Facing a loaded field made up exclusively of teams ranked in Golfstat’s national top-50, the No. 18 Gamecocks posted rounds of 294 and 298 for a 36-hole total of 592 (+24) on Monday. Senior Matt NeSmith holds seventh place after matching 71s gave him a score of 142 (E) after one day.

No. 8 Texas leads the field after Monday’s action with a 36-hole total of 570 (+2). Individually, Longhorn junior Gavin Hall has a three-shot lead with 18 to play, at 137 (-5).

Not only does the Valspar feature a field made up exclusively of top-50 teams, it also includes 30 of the top-100 individuals in the Golfstat rankings and eight members of the Ben Hogan Award Watch List. Coming off of two straight medalist honors, NeSmith, ranked 33rd individually according to Golfstat, currently sits fifth among top-100 players and third among Hogan Watch List selections.

NeSmith began each of his two rounds on the fifth hole and shot 71 (E) in both the morning and afternoon sessions. He tallied four birdies in each of his rounds, remaining consistent on a day when conditions were difficult.

Freshman Scott Stevens also turned in two solid rounds, firing a 71 (E) and a 73 (+2) to sit tied for 13th at 144 (+2). Stevens, who is coming off back-to-back top-10 results in South Carolina’s last two tournaments, made six birdies on the day, including three in a four-hole stretch starting with the par-4 14th hole in his first round.

Keenan Huskey is tied for 35th with one day left at Floridian with a two-round total of 149 (+7). The sophomore had the individual highlight of the day for South Carolina, with an eagle on the par-4 6th hole, the opening hole of his second round. He added six birdies to his ledger on Monday.

Will Miles is tied for 69th after Monday’s 36 holes. He shot rounds of 78 (+7) and 79 (+8) and has a 36-hole score of 157 (+15). The freshman’s best stretch came early in his first round, as he birdied three out of four holes starting with the par-4 10th.

Senior Will Starke shot a pair of 79s (+8) on Monday. The Byron Nelson Award candidate is tied for 73rd, at 158 (+16).

Quoting Coach Bill McDonald

“It was a very frustrating day for us overall. We were in position early in the second round to make a good run at the leaders, but we lost a ton of shots toward the end of the round. The golf course played pretty tough with windy conditions and some tough pins. Matt played another solid two rounds, but as a team, we are going to have to make some adjustments and play a lot better tomorrow if we are going to move up the leaderboard.”

Round Changer

NeSmith continues to raise his national profile, including consecutive SEC Golfer of the Week honors and a top-20 spot in the Palmer Cup rankings. The senior has shot Carolina’s best score in eight of the team’s 11 rounds this spring, including both rounds on Monday. He is one of just six players to play the par-3 holes under par on Monday at the Valspar, and his eight birdies rank tied for fifth.

Notable

  • Huskey was one of just seven players to card an eagle on Monday.
  • The Gamecocks are going for their third straight tournament victory after previous wins at the Palmetto Intercollegiate and General Hackler Championship.

Up Next for the Gamecocks

South Carolina has one final round at Floridian on Tuesday as the Valspar comes to a close. The day begins at 8 a.m., and fans can follow live scoring at Golfstat.com.

Related stories