University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
Wendy''s Kiawah Classic
Sill Leads Spartans at Wendy's Kiawah Classic
10/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Kiawah Island, S.C. – Brad Sill led the USC Upstate cause in the first round of the Wendy's Kiawah Classic Sunday, but the Spartans struggled as a team and stands 16th heading into the second round on Monday. The tournament, being played at Turtle Point at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, is a 54-hole event and will conclude on Tuesday.
Sill opened the tournament with a 78 and stands tied for 40th on the individual leaderboard. He led the Spartans on the day as Upstate turned in a 319 team score. The Spartans are seven strokes out of the top 10 and 10 from the top eight.
"Both as a team and individually, today was not our day," said Upstate head coach Todd Lawton. "My hat is off to a great and challenging golf course. It is demanding and tight off the tee, and you have to be consistent in you ball-striking. If you are slightly off, it is a penalty."
Campbell opened the tournament with a 292 to take the first round lead. Kennesaw State was second at 299 and was followed by Charleston Southern (300), George Washington (301), Jacksonville State (305), Bradley (305), Presbyterian College (307), Murray State (309), IUPUI (310), Miami (OH) (312), Butler (313), Minnesota (313), Towson (314), UConn (317), Wisconsin (318), Upstate (319), Creighton (320), St. John's (320), William & Mary (321), Stetson (322) and Western Kentucky (329).
Upstate struggled at times throughout the round. The five players combined for 14 holes of double bogey or worse. The highlight of the day, though, was turned in by McKenzie Oref (Easley, S.C.) when he holed out from the fairway for an eagle on the par-4 12th hole.
Sill (Spartanburg, S.C.) birdied two holes on the back nine to help him to the 78. Adam Goins (Gaffney, S.C.) finished one shot back of Sill with a 79. He also birdied two holes on the back nine and is tied for 48th. Brian Horton (Boiling Springs, S.C.) opened with an 80, while Tyler Comer (Spartanburg, S.C.) carded an 82. Oref shot an 84.
Campbell's Vaita Guillaume shot a 69 to take the lead heading into Monday's second round. He leads by a single stroke.
"It was cold and windy this morning and the teams who went off early had the toughest playing conditions," said Lawton. "We should have been able to manage the conditions better, but didn't. It's that simple. No doubt the conditions were easier for the later tee times when it was sunny, warmer and with much less wind. Our start time Monday is later in the day, so hopefully we will have similar conditions and can make a move. The guys worked hard on the range after the round and that was a good sign."
