Matt NeSmith leads South Carolina to win at Hootie

AWENDAW, S.C. — South Carolina junior Matt NeSmith emerged from a three-way playoff with Andrew Dorn and Gavin Green as the individual champion at the Hootie at Bulls Bay collegiate tournament, co-hosted by Coastal Carolina and the University of South Carolina. Green's New Mexico team took second place while Dorn, of Coastal Carolina, settled for a tied-for-ninth place finish. NeSmith, going 69-68-68 to shoot 11-under, helped his Gamecocks to an 11-shot win at Bulls Bay Golf Club, their third win of the spring. South Carolina went 17-under on the final day thanks to three scores under 68, including 2014 Azalea Invitational winner Will Murphy's 66. The senior from Columbia opened with 73-72 and tied for 12th place. The team got a great boost from another senior on Tuesday, Caleb Sturgeon, whose 67 and two opening round 71s, helped him place fifth. The win is the team's third, and second of the month after the Gamecocks captured the Palemtto Intercollegiate three weeks ago.