University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
Wendy''s Kiawah Classic
Upstate 8th at Wendy's Kiawah Classic
11/3/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Kiawah Island, S.C. – The USC Upstate men's golf team opened the Wendy's Kiawah Classic with a 297 in the first round Sunday and stands eighth in the tournament heading into the second day of the three-day tournament at the Turtle Point Golf Course at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort.
Adam Goins led the Spartans with a 1-under-par 71 and stands tied for sixth on the individual leaderboard.
"Turtle Point is such a great venue and requires a player to control his ball flight patterns more than other courses we play. Because of that, there are birdie opportunities you need to make and we didn't convert all of those like the leaders did. We are in very good position for the next couple days and I feel good about our player's preparation," commented Upstate head coach Todd Lawton after the round.
South Carolina opened with a 5-under 283 and owns the team lead by eight strokes over Radford heading into the second round of the 54-hole tournament. Radford shot a 291 and is followed by Presbyterian (292), Charleston Southern (292), Marquette (292), Towson (295), Winthrop (295), Upstate (297), Western Kentucky (299), Missouri (299), Elon (300), Richmond (301), Wisconsin (305), Jacksonville State (306), Minnesota (309), Creighton (312), Campbell (316) and George Washington (321).
Goins began his round on the 10th hole and made the turn at 2-under. After birdying the first hole, his 10th, he recorded a double bogey on the second hole. A bogey on No. 6 and a birdie on No. 7 followed and he closed out his round with a 71. He is just two strokes out of the lead held by South Carolina's Will Starke and Radford's Nick Brediger, who each shot a 69."
Adam was his usual collected self today and, except for a hiccup on No. 2, would be tied for the lead," said Lawton.
Sebastian Lopez Bulla carded three birdies and posted a 73 to help Goins lead the Spartans. He is tied for 17th. Taylor White opened with a 76 and is tied for 44th, while Ryan Cornfield shot a 77. Trey Taylor, playing in his first collegiate tournament, opened with an 85.
"Sebastian hit his first tee shot in a hazard and played even par after that," said Lawton. "He was very steady and has improved every round he has played. Taylor was solid and Ryan played his final nine under par after an unusual shaky start."
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