Gamecocks Go Low, Take Second at General Hackler Championship

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — South Carolina finished second by three shots to No. 18 Auburn at the 2022 General Hackler Championship on Monday evening. The Gamecocks were six shots back midway through the second round when play was suspended last night. The team rallied with a round two score of 283 (-5) and was tied for the lead with ETSU at 11-under going into the final round of play this afternoon.  
 
Carolina shot the second-best score in the field with an 11-under 277 in round three. The Tigers shot a field-best 17-under in the final round to jump two spots on the leaderboard and win behind Evan Vo’s 64 (-8), just edging out the Gamecocks.
 
Junior Jack Wall, fresh off runner-up medalist honors at the Palmetto Intercollegiate earlier this week, paced the team with a fifth-place finish. He shot 207 (-9) with a second round 68 (-4) and final round 66 (-6). He was bogey free in round three with four birdies and an eagle at the par-5 fourth hole.
 
“Our guys played great this week and I thought we showed a lot of fight yesterday in very difficult conditions,” said head coach Bill McDonald. “Jack played some incredible golf today as well. Auburn played lights out in the final round and we came up just short.”
 
Senior All-American Ryan Hall shot 212 (-4) and finished T-13th. He shot 71 (-1) in round two but slipped nine spots on the leaderboard after a third round 74 (+2). The Knoxville, Tenn., native was hurt by a tough stretch on the front nine with a bogey and double bogey as he made the turn.
 
Senior transfer Evans Lewis, junior Rafe Reynolds and freshman Nathan Franks all played solid and posted red numbers in the final round. Reynolds shot 70 (-2) with a trio of birdies as he finished T-21^st at 2-under for the tournament. Lewis also finished T-21^st at 2-under. He shot 71 (-1) in the final round with four birdies. Franks T-30^th at even par. He shot 70 (-2) in round three. Franks made double bogey on his opening hole and shot 4-under the rest of the way with five birdies.
 
The Gamecocks led the field in par-3 scoring average (2.88, -7) and finished second in the field with 60 birdies. Wall tied for the field lead in par-5 scoring average at 10-under (4.17).
 
Carolina will be back in action at the end of the month as the team host the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate (March 27-29). It will be another strong field this year at Bulls Bay Golf Club.
 
2022 General Hackler Championship Final Leaderboard
1. No. 18 Auburn – 839 (-25)  
2. No. 38 South Carolina – 842 (-22)  
3. No. 35 ETSU – 846 (-18)
4. No. 2 Oklahoma State – 849 (-15)  
5. No. 47 Virginia – 860 (-4)  
T6. No. 34 NC State – 862 (-2)
T6. No. 36 North Florida – 862 (-2)
8. No. 46 Kent State – 863 (-1)
T9. No. 39 Liberty – 870 (+6)
T9. No. 33 Louisville – 870 (+6) 
T11. East Carolina – 874 (+10)
T11. Coastal Carolina – 874 (+10)
13. UCF – 879 (+15)  
14. UNCG – 881 (+17)  
15. Penn State – 886 (+22)  
 
2022 General Hackler Championship Gamecock Leaderboard
5. Jack Wall – 207 (-9)
T13. Ryan Hall – 212 (-4)
T21. Rafe Reynolds – 214 (-2)
T21. Evans Lewis – 214 (-2)
T30. Nathan Franks – 216 (E)
84. *Gene Zeigler – 232 (+16)
 
*playing as an individual this week
 
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