University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
CFSC/Stetson Invitational
Upstate, Goins Own First Day Lead at Stetson/CFSC Invitational
11/5/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
DeLand, Fla. – USC Upstate standout golfer and Gaffney, S.C., native Adam Goins turned in two solid rounds to grab the individual lead, while the Spartans battled throughout the day to grab the lead by a stroke after 36 holes on day one of the 54-hole Stetson/CFSC Invitational Monday afternoon.
The tournament is being played at Victoria Hills Country Club. Upstate is making its fifth appearance in the event and will have the opportunity to top its best finish ever in the tournament. Goins will attempt to be the third Spartan to win an individual title at the event. Former standouts Josh Gallman and Michael Lawrence claimed individual wins in the tournament.
Goins shot rounds of 69 and 72 to finish the day at 3-under-par after 36 holes. He owns the individual lead by one stroke over Bethune-Cookman's Leon Fricker and two ahead of teammate Ryan Cornfield (Dudley, England).
Upstate opened the tournament with a 288, opening a three-stroke lead after 18 holes. The Spartans shot 291 in the second round and own a 36-hole total of 579. They lead the tournament by a single stroke over A-Sun rival Florida Gulf Coast (580). Upstate has three players in the Top 10 on the individual leaderboard and four in the Top 20.
"Today was a day that I didn't see anyone out of it," said Upstate head coach Todd Lawton. "I couldn't be more pleased with the way they came together and played golf. We overcame a lot of difficulties from our last tournament. For us to post the best round of the fall here is something to be proud of. We are competing against some schools that we know we will have to compete against late in the spring. We have a lead. It is a one-shot lead, but it is a lead. It will be exciting to see what we can do in this situation."
Bethune-Cookman is in third place with a 583 total and is followed by Central Florida (586), Florida Atlantic (602), Lipscomb (608), Savannah State (617), Stetson (626) and Florida A&M (636) on the leaderboard.
Goins owned the day. He was simply outstanding in the first round, posting 3-under in the round. He shot even-par in the second round to stand at 141. Cornfield, who has taken the Spartans by storm performing extraordinarily well as a freshman so far this season, is in third place after turning in rounds of 71 and 72 for a 1-under 143 total, two strokes back of Goins.
Matthew Hopper (Gaffney, S.C.) shot back-to-back rounds of 73 to finish the day with a 146 total and in seventh place. Brad Sill (Spartanburg, S.C.) opened with rounds of 75 and 74. He is 17th with a 149 total. Sebastian Lopez Bulla (Bogota, Colombia), playing in his first collegiate tournament, shot rounds of 80 and 75 and is in 33rd with a 155 total.
"Adam was really good," said Lawton. "He got down a little in the afternoon round, but rallied to birdie two of the last three holes to get back to even-par for the round. Ryan is just playing so well and had another really good day, and Matthew had his best round of ball-striking so far this season."
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