Stevens' Career Day Leads Carolina on Day One in Hawaii

LAHAINA, Hawaii — No. 24 South Carolina shot its lowest score of the 2018-19 season on Friday, carding a 271 (-13) in the opening round of the Ka’anapali Collegiate Classic. Four Gamecocks posted red numbers, with senior Scott Stevens leading the way thanks to a career-best 64 that has him in third place of the individual standings. The Chattanooga, Tenn., native fist pumped into the clubhouse after rolling in a 40-foot putt for birdie on his final hole. 

Stevens shot 33 (-1) on the back nine and posted a lights out, bogey free 31 (-6) on the front nine. He finished with eight birdies, which is T-2nd in the field after 18 holes. Stevens, who has started in the lineup every tournament the past four seasons, had previously shot 65 on three different occasions before his new career-low number today. He has history of success at this event, shooting 202 (-11) to earn runner-up medalist honors last fall and 203 (-10) in 2016 to finish T-6th. 

As a team, Carolina is T-4th with West Virginia and Boise State. No. 15 Clemson grabbed the 18-hole lead thanks to a 22-under 262. Zach Gordon (Clemson) and Patrick Murphy (UCLA) sit one shot in front of Stevens heading into round two on Saturday. 

Freshman Ryan Hall carded a career-best 68 (-3), tallying four birdies and just one bogey in the second round. The Knoxville, Tenn., native is T-20th. He leads the team this fall with two rounds in the 60s. He also has a pair of top-20 finishes on his resume already in just three starts in Garnet and Black. Senior Ryan Stachler matched a career-low with a 2-under 69. Fellow senior Will Miles was the final counting score with a solid, 1-under 70. Stachler and Miles each had five birdies. Sophomore Andrew Spiegler, who is making his stroke play debut in the lineup this fall, carded a first round 72 (+1). 

The Gamecocks will be paired with No. 5 Oklahoma, West Virginia and UCLA for the second round. It’ll be another shotgun start for the field at 2:30 p.m. ET. Carolina and the rest of its group will start on holes four through seven. 

R1 TEAM STANDINGS – 2018 KA’ANAPALI COLLEGIATE CLASSIC 
1. Clemson – 262 (-22)
2. Cal – 266 (-18)
3. Georgia – 268 (-16) 
T-4. South Carolina – 271 (-13) 
T-4. West Virginia – 271 (-13) 
T-4. Boise State – 271 (-13) 
7. UCLA – 272 (-12)
8. Oklahoma – 275 (-9)
9. North Florida – 278 (-6)
10. Wyoming – 280 (-4) 
11. UCONN – 281 (-3)
12. Gonzaga – 282 (-2)
13. Sacramento State – 283 (-1) 
14. Washington – 285 (+1) 
T-15. Houston – 286 (+2)
T-15. George Wasington – 286 (+2) 
17. Hawaii – 289 (+5) 
T-18. Kansas – 290 (+6)
T-18. Air Force – 290 (+6) 
20. Southern Illinois – 291 (+7)  
 
R1 INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS – 2018 KA’ANAPALI COLLEGIATE CLASSIC  
3. Scott Stevens – 64 (-7)
T-20. Ryan Hall – 68 (-3)
T-34. Ryan Stachler – 69 (-2)
T-47. Will Miles – 70 (-1)
T-71. Andrew Spiegler –  72 (+1)