Gamecocks, Hall Go Wire-to-Wire to Win Palmetto Intercollegiate

AIKEN, S.C. — South Carolina picked up its second win of the 2021-22 season on Tuesday at the Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate. The Gamecocks swept the team and individual race as senior All-American Ryan Hall earned medalist honors. Three players finished in the top-five for Carolina.
 
The team shot 275 (-5) today for a final 54-hole tally of 832 (-8), 10 shots in front of second place Virginia. Carolina was the only team in the field under par this week.
 
Hall had a six-shot lead going into today after opening with a 64 (-6) and 68 (-2) in the first two rounds Monday. He made the turn at 1-over and was bogey free coming in with three-straight birdies on holes 13-15 to finish with another 68 (-2) on his scorecard. It’s his first win this season and the fourth of his career. Hall is now T-2^nd in program history with All-Americans Keenan Huskey (2014-18), Carl Paulson (1989-93) and Matt NeSmith (2012-16) for the most career victories.
 
Junior Jack Wall made a late charge today as he paced the team with a final round 65 (-5) to earn runner-up medalist honors. He shot 33 (-1) the first nine holes and closed with a 32 (-4) on the back that featured three birdies and an eagle at the drivable par-4 15^th hole.
 
“It was a great tournament for our team and particularly Ryan and Jack,” said head coach Bill McDonald. “They played some incredible golf in tough conditions, and I was really proud of how the entire team responded when things got a little too close on the back nine. Virginia has a good team and they made a nice run at us. Our guys should gain a lot of confidence from this win. We prepared well and executed with commitment when it counted the most. I’m a proud coach.”
 
Sophomore Rafe Reynolds shot 68 (-2) to finish T-4^th at even par, a career-best showing for the Greenville, S.C., native. He was bogey free on the front nine with a birdie. Reynolds had a trio of red numbers on the back nine, birding both par-5s and the drivable par-4 18^th.
 
Freshman Nathan Franks was the final counting score with a 74 (+4). He finished T-41^st at 11-over for the tournament. Transfer Evans Lewis shot 75 (+5) and finished T-27^th at 8-over for the tournament.
 
The Gamecocks first win this season came back in the fall at the J.T. Poston Invitational. Today’s victory is the eighth time under McDonald the team has posted multiple tournament wins in the same season. It’s the 26^th career tournament win for McDonald, who is already the winningest coach in program history in 15 seasons as head ball coach.
 
South Carolina has now won the Palmetto Intercollegiate five times, four trophies coming under McDonald’s direction (2015, 2016, 2019 and 2022).
 
The Gamecocks will tee it up again this week starting Sunday at the General Hackler Championship in Myrtle Beach and Dunes Golf & Beach Club.  
 
2022 Palmetto Intercollegiate R3 Leaderboard
1. No. 43 South Carolina – 832 (-8)
2. Virginia – 842 (+2)
3. VCU – 852 (+12)
4. *No. 2 USC Aiken – 856 (+16)
5. Virginia Tech – 863 (+23)
6. Wofford – 864 (+24)
7. Furman – 869 (+29)
8. Presbyterian – 872 (+32)
T9. Charleston Southern – 877 (+37)
T9. Samford – 877 (+37)
11. Gardner-Webb – 878 (+38)
12. High Point – 881 (+41)
13. Temple – 885 (+45)
14. Francis Marion – 888 (+48)
15. Dartmouth – 897 (+57)
 
*NCAA Division II Golfstat Ranking
 
2022 Palmetto Intercollegiate Gamecock Leaderboard
1. Ryan Hall – 200 (-10)
2. Jack Wall – 205 (-5)
T4. Rafe Reynolds – 210 (E)   
T27. Evans Lewis – 218 (+8)     
T41. Nathan Franks – 221 (+11)   
 
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