Preview: Spartans Host The Johnson Group Carolina Cup
10/5/2024 2:38:00 PM | Men's Golf
SPARTANBURG, SC--Â USC Upstate will host the Johnson Group Carolina Cup at the Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg. The eight-team field, represented by four states (South Carolina, North Carolina, Michigan, and Tennessee), will begin play on Sunday, October 6, with one round per day, concluding the three-day tournament on Tuesday, October 8.
USC Upstate returns to action following a two-week break after competing in the GMAC Invitational in Alabama, where junior transfer Jackson Stone, from Acworth, Ga., led the Spartans with a final-round score of 275—the second-lowest team round in school history (-13). Stone shot -9 over the final two rounds, helping the Spartans secure a 9th-place team finish and placing 8th individually.
The Johnson Group, a major player in the Spartanburg area, sponsors the Carolina Cup. The Johnson Group has succeeded across various industries, including commercial real estate, hospitality, and auto finance.
Live results of the Carolina Cup will be available on Clipp'd starting at 11 AM EST on Sunday.
Teams (8):
Charleston Southern, NC A&T, Oakland (Michigan), Tennessee Tech, USC Upstate, Western Carolina, Winthrop, Wofford
Scouting the Field:
Charleston Southern:Â This will be the Bucs' third tournament of the year. 6'8" junior Theodor Takman will look to lead Charleston Southern to the top of the leaderboard. Takman, a junior from Norway, took 8th at the Golfweek Fall Challenge.
NC A&T: A youth movement is underway for the Aggies, with freshman Javier Morgado and sophomore Camilo Marin Raga leading the pack in their two previous tournaments. The Aggie roster features nine freshmen, along with former NBA world champion JR Smith, who has yet to compete this season.
Oakland: The Grizzlies are the team to watch, having finished in the top three as a team in all of their fall events. Oakland is competitive from top to bottom, with four golfers placing in the top 15 at their hosted Grizzlies Intercollegiate. Irishman Luke Kelly leads the squad and was recently crowned the Tom Tontimonia Invitational Individual Champion after winning a two-hole playoff. Kelly finished the second round shooting 135 (-5).
Tennessee Tech:Â The Golden Eagles have a fifth-place finish (Grover Page Classic) and a 13th-place finish (SIUE Dolenc Invitational) this year. Junior Haden Maxwell, ranked 969 as an amateur, has three top-ten finishes and one individual title at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate.
Western Carolina: Freshman Chase Cline has been the most consistent golfer for the Catamounts this fall, with an average round score of 71.5 and a top-ten finish to his name.
Winthrop:Â Senior Jeff Nelson is off to a strong start in the 2024-2025 campaign, finishing 34th and tying for 10th at the highly competitive Badger Invitational. Sophomore Ashton Eubanks has also put together solid rounds this fall.
Wofford:Â This is the Terriers' third tournament of the fall, following their 18th-place finish at the Gene Miranda Invitational hosted by Air Force. Canada native Andrew Aquino, competing as an individual, notched a top-15 finish.
Spartan Lineup:
1. Jackson Stone (Jr., Acworth, GA)
2. Cameron Biddle (So., Aiken, SC)
3. Caden Sanders (RS So., Johannesburg, South Africa)
4. Alec Prentice (So., Wellington, New Zealand)
5. Ross Wright (Fr., Houston, TX)
Independent: Jaskaran Sohal (Sr., Brisbane, Australia), Barrett Josey (Sr., Reidville, SC), Herman Holst (Jr., Ystad, Sweden) and Clayton Taylor (Fr., Boiling Springs, SC)
About The Course:
A Tom Jackson-designed, 18-hole championship course is among the top-rated in the Upstate. Stretching over 7,000 yards, the layout winds through a scenic landscape with streams and a signature lake in play. The course features six sets of tees, providing a challenge for all skill levels. Recent renovations include Champion Ultra-dwarf Bermuda grass greens and 419 Bermuda fairways.
Notable holes:
- Hole 4: The toughest hole, requiring a precise right-to-left tee shot.
- Hole 6:Â A 231-yard par three with a forced carry over water and an uphill approach.
- Hole 11:Â A short, 274-yard par four with a tight fairway and challenging bunkers.
- Hole 17: A par five with a risk-reward tee shot, lined with three bunkers and a sharp dogleg left.
Weather Report:
Sunday, Round 1: Partly sunny with a high of 78°F. Light winds and a 15% chance of rain.
Monday, Round 2: Mostly sunny with a high of 81°F. Light winds and minimal chance of rain.
Tuesday, Final Round: Partly cloudy with a high of 75°F. Winds from the NE at 5-10 mph.
Players Mentioned
