March 26, 2017

Awendaw, S.C. — Paced by junior Keenan Huskey’s 6-under 66, South Carolina men’s golf wrapped up day one of the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate in second place after opening with a 279 (-9) Sunday at the Bulls Bay Golf Club. The Gamecocks will head into Monday’s second round just two shots off the lead of Georgia State, which fired an 11-under 277 on day one of the 54-hole event.

Huskey, one of three golfers in Carolina’s lineup to break par in the opening round, tallied seven birdies on the day to grab a share of the individual lead. He posted a front-nine 34 (-3) following birdies on Nos. 4, 6 and 9 before adding four more after the turn. His closed his round in style, notching his final birdie on the par-4 18th.

Gamecock freshman Jamie Wilson will head into round two in a tie for seventh following his 3-under 69 Sunday. He boasted a strong start to his week with four birdies on his front nine. The Mt. Pleasant, S.C., native made the turn at 4-under 33 and bounced back from a double bogey on No. 13 with a birdie on the par-3 17th.

Redshirt junior Ben Dietrich marked the other golfer in the Gamecock lineup to break par, as he posted an opening-round 71 (-1). He sported a steady round on the opening day after totaling 13 pars to go along with birdies on the par-5 second and Nos. 15 and 17. Dietrich sits in a tie for 21st through 18 holes.

Ryan Stachler (T-46) collected four birdies on the way to a first-round 73 (+1), while fellow sophomore Scott Stevens sits in a tie for 51st after opening with a 2-over 74. Will Miles, who is competing as an individual this week for the Gamecocks, is tied for 21st after breaking par with a 1-under 71. The sophomore carded birdies on three of his first four holes following the turn

Virginia sits in third place on the team leaderboard after its 7-under 281 Sunday, while Ole Miss (283, -5) and Auburn (284, -4) round out the top five. Huskey shares the individual lead with Braden Thornberry of the Rebels.

Quoting Coach Bill McDonald

Round Changer Keenan Huskey

Notable

• South Carolina’s 2.88 par-3 scoring average Sunday led the 15-team field.
• The Gamecocks are tied for first at the tournament with 22 birdies through 18 holes.
• Gamecock junior Keenan Huskey’s seven birdies in the opening round were tied for first among golfers in action.

Up Next for the Gamecocks

South Carolina is back on the course Monday morning for the second round of the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate. The Gamecocks, who begin their day at 10:10 a.m. ET, will play alongside Georgia State and Virginia.