Spartan Golfers Hot This Summer
7/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
July 18, 2007
Spartanburg, S.C. - Coming off of a second place showing in the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championships, it would not be shocking to see some of USC Upstate's men's golfers take a little time off of competition. Instead, many of the Spartans have not taken a break and have enjoyed successful summers.
2007 Peach Belt Conference individual champion Baxter Culler (pictured) and teammate Jamie Lightsey are currently playing in the 101st Southern Amateur Championship being played at the Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst July 18-21. The duo qualified at an event in Charlotte in June. Culler fired a 3-under-par 69 and Lightsey got into the tournament by posting a 2-under 70.
Culler has been busy since helping Upstate to a second-place showing at the National Championships in May. He and Lightsey advanced to the match play portion of the South Carolina Golf Association (SCGA) Four Ball Championship in June. Spartans Josh Gallman and Ian Schneider advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament before being eliminated. Culler qualified for the 107th North South Amateur Championship played at Pinehurst, N.C., at the famed Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4 courses. He did not qualify for the match play portion of the tournament. He then qualified for the Carolinas Golf Association Amateur Championship and advanced to the Round of 16 before being eliminated. He advanced out of the stroke play portion of the tournament with the ninth-best score, a 1-over-par 73-70=143 at the Par 71 Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Culler and Lightsey are not the only golfers busy this summer. Michael Lawrence qualified for the Rice Planters Championship played July 3-7 and advanced through three rounds before missing the cut for the final round. He also qualified for the 76th Annual SCGA Amateur Championship Aug. 2-4 at the Country Club of South Carolina in Florence and will be joined in the tournament by Spartans Gallman, Lightsey, and Brandon Bradosky.
Finally, former Upstate golfer Ian Schneider is making the rounds on the Tarheel Tour after turning pro following the South Carolina Four Ball Championship. He has played in three events this year and has made two cuts with a high finish of 42nd at the Warrior Classic. He is currently playing his first round of the Old Sycamore Classic.
