University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
A-Sun Championships
Sill Continues to Lead Spartans as Upstate Gets Within Striking Distance of Best-Ever Finish
4/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Braselton, Ga. – For the second-straight day, Spartanburg native Brad Sill led the USC Upstate men's golf team at the 2012 A-Sun Championships Tuesday, firing a 74 to remain in the top 10 on the individual leaderboard. Although Upstate slipped a position from yesterday, the Spartans are within five strokes of a fourth-place finish in the event and enter the final round in sixth place.
Upstate is playing in its fourth A-Sun Championships and sixth place is its highest finish in the event, a position achieved in each of the last two years. The Spartans are within a shot of fifth place and five within fourth heading into Wednesday's final round.
"As a team, today was disappointing only in that we didn't convert enough up and downs and make more pars on our last couple holes," said Upstate head coach Todd Lawton. "We have to play every shot with mental toughness and concentration. Tomorrow will be exciting to play with a chance to charge a tight leaderboard."
North Florida, ranked eighth in the latest national ranking by Golfstat, shot a 286 on Tuesday and owns the 36-hole lead with a 573 total. The Ospreys are 10 strokes ahead of Kennesaw State (583) and ETSU (583). Florida Gulf Coast is fourth at 596 and is followed by Mercer (600), Upstate (601), Stetson (602), Jacksonville (607), Lipscomb (614) and Belmont (615).
Sill continues to lead Upstate in the tournament. He posted a 74 on the day. He went out in 2-over-par and collected a pair of birdies and bogeys on the back nine to shoot 2-over for the day. He is tied for sixth on the individual leaderboard at 145, eight shot back of tournament leader Sean Dale from North Florida.
Matthew Hopper (Gaffney, S.C.) continued to be on the cusp of going low in the tournament. He stood 1-under through eight holes, but recorded a double bogey on the par-5 ninth hole. He then moved back to 1-under after 15 holes, but made three-straight bogeys to shoot 74 on the day. He is tied for 14th with a 149 total heading into the final round on Wednesday.
"Brad continues to lead us and has played great golf," said Lawton. "He hit nice shots and nearly made several more birdies today. I'm excited for him and the team that he is doing well, individually. Matthew is in the top 20 with good play. He and Brad have had some really good stretches during their rounds today."
Brian Horton (Boiling Springs, S.C.) followed a 75 on Monday with a 78 on Tuesday and is tied for 31st with a 153 total. Adam Goins is tied for 38th after shooting his second consecutive 78. He was even-par after nine holes, but took back-to-back double bogeys to start the back nine. Goins is tied at 163 with teammate Tyler Comer (Spartanburg). Comer made the biggest improvement of the day for the Spartans. He shot a 76 to cut four strokes off his Monday round.
