No. 24 Gamecocks Begin Regional Play Monday Morning

NORMAN, Okla. — No. 24 South Carolina begins play at the NCAA Norman Regional on Monday morning as first round action gets underway. The Gamecocks are making the team’s 29^th regional appearance in program history this week and 14^th under head coach Bill McDonald.
 
“The Jimmie Austin Course is in great shape, and with the winds forecasted I’m sure it will be a challenge,” said head coach Bill McDonald. “Our guys look sharp in practice and I’m looking for them to have a good week We have two freshmen and a sophomore in the lineup and it will be great experience for those guys.”
 
It’s a strong 13-team field with five team’s from the latest Golfstat Team Rankings. Top-ranked Oklahoma and No. 7 Texas are the top two seeds. Carolina is seeded fourth and is one of four teams in the field from the SEC.
 
OU was a last minute add to the six-site host school list replacing Alabama, who’s golf course was deemed unplayable. Jimmie Austin Golf Club is in mint condition and should be a tough challenge for teams this week with high winds expected to play a factor.
 
The top-five teams after 54 holes this week will advance to the 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship (May 27-June 1) at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. The team will be seeking the program’s 22^nd NCAA Championship appearance and eighth under McDonald.
 
Senior All-American Ryan Hall is the top player in the lineup this week, per usual. He’s joined by redshirt senior Evans Lewis, sophomore Rafe Reynolds and a pair of freshmen in Nathan Franks and Gene Zeigler. Outside of Hall, every Gamecock is making his NCAA debut this week.
 
Hall won the NCAA Albuquerque Regional last season, becoming just the third player in program history to become regional champion.
 
Carolina will be paired with No. 25 Ole Miss and Louisville for the opening 18 holes. Zeigler will lead things off for the Gamecocks on hole 10 at 9:30 a.m. (ET). Live scoring will be available the duration of the tournament via Golfstat.
 
2022 NCAA Norman Regional Field
1. No. 1 Oklahoma
2. No. 7 Texas
3. No. 18 Auburn
4. No. 24 South Carolina 
5. No. 25 Ole Miss
6. No. 36 Louisville
7. No. 37 Missouri
8. No. 48 San Diego State
9. No. 50 Utah
10. Kent State
11. Kansas State
12. UT Martin
13. Rider
 
2022 NCAA Norman Regional Gamecock Lineup
1. Ryan Hall
2. Evans Lewis
3. Nathan Franks 
4. Rafe Reynolds
5. Gene Zeigler
 
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