South Carolina Wins General Hackler Championship

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (March 13, 2016)--After 36-holes No. 19 South Carolina held a three stroke at the General Hackler Championship being contested at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club. By the time final round play wrapped up, the lead was a comfortable seven. The Gamecocks took home the title thanks to four players finishing in the top 15. Senior Matthew NeSmith (9-under), the reigning SEC Golfer of the Week, led the way tying for medalist honors. NeSmith started the day four shots off the pace. NeSmith shot his second consecutive 5-under 67 after beginning the tournament with a 1-over 73. The senior birdied his first two holes of the day and never looked back. In all NeSmith, who bogeyed just one hole, birdied six holes, including the 18th. For NeSmith it was his second medalist honor of the year and fourth of his career. The other three Gamecocks to finish in the top 15 were sophomore Scott Stevens at 3-under (T9), sophomore Keenan Huskey at 1-under (T15) and senior Will Starke at 1-under (T15). For South Carolina it was their second straight win after winning the Palmetto Intercollegiate last week. South Carolina now has three tournament wins this season. Virginia junior Jimmy Stanger (9-under) shared the medalist honors with NeSmith following a final round 1-under 71. Stanger began the day with a two-stroke lead but had an up and down final round. The junior birdied two and bogeyed two on the front nine and was even-par on his round through 14, before birding No. 15 to pull into a first place tie. Stanger, playing behind NeSmith, had a chance to win the title with a 15-footer on the final hole but had to settle for par. This was the best finish for Stanger in his career. Charleston Southern's Austin James (7-under) finished in third place two shots back. Gisli Sveinbergsson (6-under) of Kent State finished in fourth while R.J. Keur (5-under) out off Charleston Southern and NC State's Jacob McBride (5-under) tied for fifth. No. 23 Virginia (848) finished second in the team competition with Kent State (852) finishing third. The highest ranked team in the field was No. 17 North Carolina (855) and they finished fourth.