Sept. 9, 2016

ROCKY FACE, Ga. — The South Carolina men’s golf team recorded a first round score of 283 (-5) and sits tied for fourth with LSU and Clemson in the team race at the 2016 Carpet Capital Collegiate. Carolina sits seven shots back from the leaders (276). The Gamecocks shot nine-under as a team on the back nine to finish the day, led by junior Keenan Huskey, who shot 69 (-3). Huskey currently sits just outside the top-10 individually tied for 11th.

Virginia and Auburn are tied at the top of the leaderboard in the team standings. The Cavaliers and Tigers each shot an impressive 276 (-12) to open play. Sam Horsfield of Florida leads the way individually after shooting an opening round score of 65 (-7)

Sophomore Ryan Stachler and junior Ben Dietrich each shot under par in the first round as well for the Gamecocks. Stachler is tied for 16th after shooting two-under par (70) and Dietrich is T-25 after tallying a first round score of one-under par (71).

Huskey leads the Gamecocks with his first round 69. He shot even par (36) on the front nine and fired a 69 (-3) on the back nine. The three-under round for the Greenville, S.C. native was the 20th of his career at par or better. Huskey had four birdies on the day.

Sophomore Scott Stevens finished day one T-41 individually after tallying a score of 73 (+1) in the opening round. Stevens shot a 38 (+2) on the front nine and recorded a 35 (-1) on the back nine. The Chattanooga, Tenn. native posted two birdies en route to his one-under par round on the backstretch. Stevens is T-41 individually.

Stachler recorded the second under par or better round of his career Friday afternoon. The Alpharetta, Ga. native shot even par (36) on the front nine and posted a 34 (-2) on the back nine. He had five birdies on the day.

Sophomore Will Miles finished the day with a 75 (+3). He shot a 40 (+4) on the front nine but was able to find his groove on the back nine, recording a 35 (-1). The Hilton Head Island, S.C. native recorded two birdies on the day, both coming on the back nine. Miles is T-59 individually.

Dietrich’s score of 71 was good for his 11th career round of par or better. The Bluffton, S.C. native carded a 37 (+1) on the front nine. He heated up on the back nine posting three birdies en route to scoring a 34 (-2) on the back nine. Friday was Dietrich’s first time competing for Carolina since his sophomore season in 2014-15.

True freshman Jamie Wilson, who appeared for the first time as a Gamecock on the links, shot a first round 74 (+2) competing individually. The Mt. Pleasant, S.C. native got off to a hot start this morning and sat at -2 through four holes after eagling the par-5 12th. Wilson shot even par (36) with two birdies on his final nine holes to conclude his opening round. Wilson sits T-47 in the standings.

Quoting Coach Bill McDonald

Round Changer

Notable

• The Gamecocks made their 26th appearance overall, their 11th straight, at the Carpet Capital Collegiate today.
• The Gamecocks had 20 birdies and one eagle on the day.
• Wilson made his collegiate debut on Friday, while Dietrich was in action for the first time since the 2015 Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate.
• Dietrich and Stachler tied for the team lead with five birdies each in the opening round of play.

Up Next for the Gamecocks

South Carolina continues their run at the Carpet Capital Collegiate Saturday morning when they take part in the second 18-hole round of the tournament. Live scoring from The Farm is available throughout the day at Golfstat.com.