Five Gamecocks Advance In Web.Com Tour Q School

Oct. 14, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Five former South Carolina men’s golf standouts qualified for the second stage of Web.com Tour Q School this weekend. Matt NeSmith (2012-16), Sean Kelly (2011-16), Will Murphy (2011-15), Dykes Harbin (2009-13) and Mark Silvers III (2005-09) all advanced at their sites, with Kelly finishing at the top of the leaderboard.

“We’ve got quite a few guys advancing to second stage and think that says a lot about how you can pursue and prepare for your professional dreams here at Carolina,” said head coach Bill McDonald. “As a staff, we couldn’t be prouder of them, and we are pulling hard for their success on their quest to get their Web.com Tour cards.”

Kelly, a four-year starter and two-time Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-American Scholar, shot under-par all four rounds at The Breakers Rees Jones Course in West Palm Beach, Fla. en route to his win. He carded three-consecutive rounds in the 60s to finish at 14-under (274). Kelly played in 12 events on the Mackenzie Tour this past season, finishing 24th on the money list. College teammate Will Starke, a two-time PING All-American, finished 19th on the money list of the Mackenzie Tour also playing in 12 events.

NeSmith, a three-time PING All-American and one of the most decorated golfers in program history, finished T-4th and was just two shots away from winning at the Mountain View Course at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga. He shot 67, 62, 68, and 73 to finish at 18-under par. NeSmith’s 71.65 career scoring average while at Carolina is the lowest all-time. He was the first Gamecock in program history to earn PING First Team All-America honors as a senior in 2016.

Murphy (T-9th) and Harbin (T-14th) each finished in the top-22 at The Club at Irish Creek in Kannapolis, N.C. to punch their tickets to the second stage of Web.com Q School. Murphy finished at 11-under after four under-par rounds and three scores in the 60s. Harbin shot 9-under after four under-par rounds and two scores in the 60s. Murphy was a four-year starter for the Gamecocks and earned PING Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2014. Harbin was a three-year starter at Carolina, earning PING All-Southeast Region and Second-Team All-SEC honors as a senior in 2013.

Silvers III played at the same location of NeSmith, finishing in eighth at 16-under to advance to the second stage. He was under-par every round, shooting 67, 67, 68 and 70. Silvers III was a three-starter for the Gamecocks and was a member of the 2007 NCAA West Regional champion squad. He earned All-America honors and was named Second Team All-SEC as a senior in 2009. He was also the 2009 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament is the premier way to gain status for the upcoming season on the Web.com Tour. Each year, several worthy players take their shot at advancing through pre-qualifying, First Stage and Second Stage at various sites across the country — all leading up to Final Stage, which will be held this year at Whirlwind Golf Club (Devils Claw and The Cattail) in Chandler, Ariz.

Players who advance to Final Stage are assured a Web.com Tour card for the following season, and the top-45 finishers (and ties) at Final Stage are assured a healthy number of starts in the first part of the 2018 Web.com Tour season.