WINDERMERE, Fla. — The California Golden Bears jumped out to a five-shot lead at the Tavistock Collegiate Invitational. Shooting 9-under par 279 on day one at Isleworth Country Club, the Bears were paced by this year's Trans-Mississippi Championship winner Collin Morikawa of La Canada Flintridge, Calif., who carded 67 in the first round.
The true freshman birdied his last four holes of the day to move ahead of two 68s on the board, Max Rotluff of Arizona State and Dylan Meyer of Illinois.
Cal also received solid opening rounds from Shotaro Ban (69) and Walker Huddy (70).
The second-place Gamecocks posted 4-under 284 and were led by senior standout Matt NeSmith, who has two huge wins in 2015 — the SEC Championship and the Players Amateur.
Will Starke and Keenan Huskey shot 71 for South Carolina and are tied for ninth place.
The defending champion Florida State Seminoles are not in the field this year, as they chose to play in the U.S. Collegiate Tournament, which concluded Sunday afternoon at The Golf Club of Georgia. Florida State finished five strokes back in fourth place.
Cal up by five at Tavistock Collegiate Invitational
Led by 2015 Trans-Miss winner Collin Morikawa, the Cal Bears are in front by five over South Carolina at Isleworth Country Club