Upstate Opens 2017 Fall Schedule Hosting Bridgestone Stroke Play
9/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Spartanburg, S.C. – The USC Upstate men's golf team tees off its 2017 fall campaign on Tuesday as the Spartans are scheduled to host the six-team Bridgestone Stroke Play from the par 72, 6,971-yard Legends Course at Chateau Elan in Braselton, Ga.
Along with Upstate, the other five teams competing at the Bridgestone Stroke Play are Jacksonville, Jacksonville State, Presbyterian College, Appalachian State and Gardner-Webb. UT-Chattanooga will be competing as individuals at the tournament.
The tournament will consist of 36 holes on Tuesday beginning with the morning tee times at 8 a.m. on the first and tenth holes. The afternoon tee times are slated for 12:30 p.m. and also begin on holes one and ten. The teams will be made up of six players and count the best four scores for each round.
The Spartans are sending out a six-player lineup consisting of Matt Carter, Jordan Warnock, Sun Paripunna, Conner Conkel, Hunter Fry and Reid Bedell. Competing as individuals will be Sam Merrell and Sean Stanistreet.
"It's exciting to practice and compete at the Legends this week," said Upstate head coach Todd Lawton. "As the host course for the ASUN Championship in the spring, this tournament provides our players the opportunity to get another look at the course and helps us prepare during the season for what is to come."
This year marks the third straight season that the Spartans have opened their fall season at the Legends Course at Chateau Elan. The last two seasons Upstate has hosted the Bridgestone Match Play. Last year, the Spartans finished fourth in the team competition and went 0-1 in match play after falling to Lipscomb. Carter and Warnock tied for 13th place to lead Upstate individually.
"The Legends is always in phenomenal condition and has hosted the PGA Tour, USGA Qualifiers and numerous other nationally ranked events in the past," Lawton added. "The Head Golf Professional, Sean Cain, makes all the players and coaches feel welcome from arrival to departure. No doubt the Bridgestone Stroke Play Team Champions will have competed at the highest level."
Carter and Warnock are two of six returning players for the Spartans this season along with Fry, Merrell, Paripunna and Stanistreet. Upstate also welcomes two newcomers in Bedell and Conkel.
The Legends Course at Chateau Elan is the host site for the 2018 ASUN Men's and Women's Golf Championships.
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