USC’s Starke tied atop leader board at NCAA men’s championship

Senior Will Starke led the way as South Carolina completed its opening round in good form at the NCAA Championship on Friday.

The Gamecocks shot 287 (+7) as a team, with Starke posting a score of 67 (-3) individually. Starke is tied for first place, while USC rests in a tie for 10th as a team.

The top 15 teams will advance to Monday’s fourth round. The top eight teams after Monday will advance to match play.

Sophomore Keenan Huskey shot 70 (E), while Matt NeSmith, Sean Kelly and Scott Stevens each tallied rounds of 75 (+5).

Clemson sits in a tie for 19th place after the first round, led by senior Stephen Behr Jr. and Bryson Nimmer at even-par 70 - which is good for a tie for 17th individually.

The Tigers shot 11-over par 291. After Behr and Nimmer, the Tigers got a 75 by Miller Capps and a 76 by Austin Langdale.

Arkansas and TCU were leading the team competition with first-round scores of 2-over 282.