No. 20 South Carolina in Third at Bulls Bay

AWENDAW, S.C. — No. 20 South Carolina is in third place after 36 holes of the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate. The Gamecocks posted a 286 (-2) in the second round on Monday in breezy conditions. Junior Jamie Wilson led Carolina for the second-straight day with another 69 (-3).
 
“We played well most of the round but lost a few shots on the closing holes,” said head coach Bill McDonald. “Jamie (Wilson) has looked really good the past two days, but overall I felt like we’ve been a little sloppy with our body language and self-talk this week. I think the team is getting a little mentally worn down from playing a lot of intense golf the past couple of weeks and ­we’re going to have to dig deep and find some positive energy tomorrow for the final round.”
 
The local product from just down the road in Mount Pleasant is T-4^th at 6-under overall. Wilson had a career-best T-5^th finish helping lead the Gamecocks to their last team title at Bulls Bay in 2017. He posted a 54-hole total of 209 (-7). Wilson didn’t have a bogey until the final hole, just rolling his par putt past the cup by inches.
 
Seniors Will Miles and Scott Stevens each shot even par 72s. Miles made the turn at 4-under thanks to an eagle par-5 sixth hole, but he didn’t register a red number on the back nine shooting 4-over. Stevens battled back from a 2-over start with three-straight birdies on nine, 10 and 11, but was hurt by bogeys on 16 and 17.
 
Fellow senior Ryan Stachler was the final counting score for Carolina at 1-over (73). The Alpharetta, Ga., native, struck the ball well and stayed out of trouble all day but simply could not buy a putt. Junior Caleb Proveaux shot 2-over (74). Stachler, Stevens and Proveaux are all T-19^th 1-under for the tournament. Miles climbed 10 spots on the leaderboard and is T-30^th at 1-over through two rounds.
 
College of Charleston posted the round of the day with an 11-under 277 to take a ­three-shot lead on the Gamecocks heading into the final round. Kent State posted a 284 (-4) today and is in second at 12-under. Charlie Hillier of Kansas sits alone atop the leaderboard at 10-under thanks to his second consecutive round of 67 (-5). He has a two-shot cushion on the rest of the field.
 
Carolina will be paired with the Cougars and Golden Flashes for the final 18 holes on Tuesday. Miles will lead things off on hole one at 8:45 a.m. ET tomorrow. Wilson will be the final Gamecock off at 9:21 a.m.
 
R2 TEAM SCOREBOARD – 2019 HOOTIE AT BULLS BAY INTERCOLLEGIATE
1. College of Charleston – 562 (-14)
2. Kent State – 564 (-12)
3. South Carolina – 565 (-11)
4. Kansas – 569 (-7)
5. West Virginia – 574 (-2)
6. Missouri – 575 (-1)
7. Virginia – 576 (E)
8. Iowa State – 579 (+3)
9. Duke – 580 (+4)
10. N.C. State – 581 (+5)
T-11. Ole Miss – 582 (+6)
T-11. Kentucky – 582 (+6)
13. Wisconsin – 583 (+7)
14. Purdue – 584 (+8)
15. Middle Tennessee State – 587 (+11)
 
R2 GAMECOCK LEADERBOARD – 2019 HOOTIE AT BULLS BAY INTERCOLLEGIATE
T-4. Jamie Wilson – 138 (-6)
T-19. Ryan Stachler – 143 (-1)
T-19. Scott Stevens – 143 (-1)
T-19. Caleb Proveaux – 143 (-1)
T-30. Will Miles – 145 (+1)
 
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