USC men’s golf team qualifies for NCAA Championships
The South Carolina men’s golf team clinched a spot at the NCAA Championship for the fourth consecutive season on Wednesday as the Gamecocks finished second at the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional. Carolina shot 283 (-5) in the final round to post a three-day score of 852 (-12).
Georgia won the Regional, finishing with a three-round total of 848 (-16) to pace the field by four strokes. The Gamecocks and Bulldogs will be joined by fellow SEC members Alabama (857, -7), Kentucky (858, -6) and Auburn (867, +3) at the NCAA Championship, which will be held May 27 – June 1in Eugene, Ore.
Senior Matt NeSmith led South Carolina individually with a three-round score of 208 (-8). NeSmith finished second overall, one stroke behind Georgia’s Greyson Sigg (207, -9).
The Gamecocks were the only team to put three individuals in the top-10 in Tuscaloosa. Joining NeSmith were Keenan Huskey (214, -2), who grabbed ninth, and Sean Kelly (215, -1), who tied for 10th.
NeSmith shot 68 (-4) on Wednesday, matching the best round of the tournament from a Gamecock. The senior carded seven birdies on the day, including a birdie on the par-4 18th hole.
Huskey posted a 73 (+1) to close his tournament one day after setting the pace for the Gamecocks with a 68. The sophomore finished with six birdies on the day and ended the week with his highest postseason finish to date.
Kelly came home with a second-straight 72 (E) on Wednesday, which included three birdies. The redshirt senior matched his T-10th finish from the SEC Championship in April, equaling his best career postseason result.
Will Starke finished 20th in Tuscaloosa, with a three-round score of 218 (+2). The senior finished the tournament by shooting 73 (+1) on Wednesday. His round included four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 14th hole.
Scott Stevens posted his best round of the tournament on Wednesday, shooting 70 (-2). The freshman recorded five birdies in the last round and tied for 30th overall, with a score of 221 (+5).
This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 5:10 PM.