University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
A-Sun Championships
Hopper Claims Top 10 Finish at A-Sun Championships
4/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Braselton, Ga. – USC Upstate golfer and Gaffney, S.C., native Matthew Hopper turned in his best career finish at the A-Sun Championships, finishing tied for 10th after shooting a 74 on Wednesday afternoon. His effort led the Spartans to tie its best finish ever in the event, coming in tied for sixth in the tournament held on the Chateau Course at the Chateau Elan Resort.
The teams started on the 10th hole and Hopper got off to a good start with a birdie. He recorded a double bogey on the 11th hole and traded a birdie and bogey on 15 and 16 to go out in 1-over-par. He made two bogeys on the front (his back nine) to finish with a 74. He claimed a tie for 10th with a 1-over 214 total.
"Matthew had a good tournament and he should be proud of his top 10 finish," said Upstate head coach Todd Lawton. "I'm proud of him and all of the guys. We were just a few shots off in our second round, or we could have been a top three team."
Upstate turned in a round of 287, finishing the tournament in the 280s in two of the three rounds. The Spartans totaled 866 to finish tied with Florida Gulf Coast in sixth place. Kennesaw State led wire-to-wire to claim the championship with an 845 total. North Florida was second at 854 and was followed by Campbell (855), Mercer (860), East Tennessee State (861), Upstate (866), Florida Gulf Coast (866), Belmont (874), Jacksonville (876), Stetson (879) and Lipscomb (900).
"I am very proud of the team today," said Upstate head coach Todd Lawton. "It was a good finish. The hole locations were more difficult and we still couldn't get putts to fall, but all in all, it was a very good tournament for us.
"We were able to tie our best finish in the conference tournament, and did so with freshmen and sophomores in the lineup. We have a lot of good things to build on."
Brian Horton (Boiling Springs, S.C.) turned in the top round of the day for Upstate, shooting a 1-under 70. He began the round with 12 pars before recording back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth holes. He gave a stroke back on the sixth, but made par the rest of the way for his 70. He finished 30th with a 220 total.
Freshman Adam Goins (Gaffney, S.C.) had a strong performance in his first appearance in the A-Sun Championship. He finished the tournament with an even-par 71 and was the second-lowest Spartan overall, finishing tied for 22nd with a 217 total.
Brad Sill (Spartanburg, S.C.) had a strong finish as well, shooting a 1-over 72 on Wednesday. After recording two bogeys on his first nine, he birdied the first three holes on his second nine and recorded four birdies overall in the final nine holes to finish with a 72. He claimed a tie for 48th with a 226 total. Tyler Comer (Pacolet Mills, S.C.) finished tied for 43rd at 224.
Kennesaw State's Jeff Karlsson claimed the individual championship after shooting rounds of 67, 69 and 71 for a 6-under total. He won by three strokes over four players at 3-under.
