No. 15 South Carolina Falls to No. 16 Auburn in SEC Quarterfinals, 4-1

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – No. 15 South Carolina fell, 4-1, to No. 16 Auburn in the SEC Match Play Quarterfinals on Saturday morning at Sea Island Golf Club. The Tigers, the defending SEC Champions, earned the top overall seed for match play with a low score of 24-under in stroke play earlier in the week.

“We had a good chance to win this match today, and I’m proud of how the guys came out prepared and ready to compete this morning,” said head coach Bill McDonald. “All credit to the other team, they just simply played better.” 

Senior Scott Stevens posted the lone victory for the Gamecocks, a 2-up win against Trace Crow. He led for all but two holes during the match. He had four birdies before his match was stopped through 14 holes.
 
Senior Ryan Stachler led off for Carolina at 7:30 a.m. ET against Jacob Solomon. He was three down through five holes but battled back with two birdies to pull within one at the turn. The duo exchanged pars the first four holes (10-13) on the back nine. Solomon pulled back in front by three with birdies at 14 and 15. Stachler birdied 16 but made par on 17, falling 2&1.
 
Junior Caleb Proveaux played great golf against individual medalist Jovan Rebula. He was 2-up with five holes to play, but Rebula went on a birdie tear posting red numbers on his final five holes. The match was all square at 17 after both players birdied the par-4 16^th. Rebula stuffed his tee shot to a foot at a pin location up front, tucked behind a bunker to take a 1-up lead. Both players birdied 18 giving Rebula the 1-up victory.
 
Auburn then sealed its quarterfinal win with a 5&4 victory by Brandon Mancheno over junior Jamie Wilson in the anchor position. They were all square through six, but Mancheno heated up making four birdies over the next five holes to take control of the match.
 
Senior Will Miles lost 2-up as his match was called on the tee box at 16. Miles was four down at the turn, but won three-straight holes to pull within one.
 
NOTABLE
> This marks Carolina’s second appearance in SEC Match Play since the conference tournament changed to its new format in 2017.
> Stevens, who has started every tournament the past four seasons for the Gamecocks, remains undefeated in match play in Garnet and Black, with a 4-0-1 career record dating back to the 2016 NCAA Quarterfinals his freshman year.
> Stachler’s defeat was his first ever in match play. He came into today with a 3-0-0 record.
 
UP NEXT
The Gamecocks will wait to see where they’re headed for NCAA Regionals (May 13-15). Golf Channel will be airing the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship Selection Show live on Wednesday, May 1, at 9 p.m. ET.
 
MATCH PLAY QUARTERFINALS – 2019 SEC MEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
 
Jacob Solomon def. Ryan Stachler, 2&1
Jovan Rebula def. Caleb Proveaux, 1-up
Graysen Hugg def. Will Miles, 2-up
Scott Stevens def. Trace Crowe, 2-up
Brandon Mancehno def. Jamie Wilson, 5&4
 
No. 1 seed Auburn defeats No. 8 seed South Carolina, 4-1

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