FRIPP ISLAND, SC -- USC Upstate capped off a historic weekend at Fripp Island, claiming the team crown with rounds of 281-276-294-851, finishing one under par for the tournament. New Zealand sophomore Alec Prentice delivered a standout performance, tying for first place with scores of 70-63-73-206, finishing seven under par. Prentice began the day in second place and climbed to the top of the leaderboard with a strong finish on holes one and eighteen.
Prentice and Aaron Sorkin (Mount St. Mary's) each shot a second-round 63, just two shots shy of the Ocean Creek Course record, an impressive feat given the prevailing 15-20 mph winds. Prentice and Sorkin etched their names into their respective school record books as the round of 63 set new school records. Prentice is a fan of the Ocean Creek Course on Fripp Island, he won last November's 36-hole Fripp Island Preview as well.
"Winning at this level never comes easy, and the effort these past three days was exactly what you want to see," said Head Coach Todd Lawton. "From Alec posting a school record to the consistency across our lineup, this tournament was a win for us. Seeing our score at the top of the leaderboard is just the icing on the cake. Mercer has a great program, and they pushed hard today. We've had our struggles the past couple of years, but I really feel this group is just getting started."
Four Spartans finished in the top-15 overall. Jackson Stone and Herman Holst tied for eighth, each carding a 214 total (Stone with rounds of 69-71-74, Holst with 72-69-73). Sophomore Cameron Biddle placed thirteenth with rounds of 71-73-74-218. Caden Sanders rounded out the scoring with a total of 71-75-77-223.
The team title quickly became a two-horse race between Upstate and Mercer. USC Upstate took control of the leaderboard on Sunday and carried a 14-stroke lead (-11) over Mercer (+3) into Monday's final round. The Spartans' second-round score of 276 ranks as the third-best round in program history. Upstate was among the top two in par-3, par-4, and par-5 scoring, with par-3 play proving decisive as the Spartans broke even, while the Bears averaged 3.23.
USC Upstate led the tournament with 52 birdies and recorded three eagles. Their 54-hole score of 851 ranks as 4th best in school history. This also marks the first tournament USC Upstate has completed the 54-holes under par since the Autotrader Collegiate Classic at Berkeley Hills CC in Duluth, Ga, in October 2019.
The title was the first since April of 2019 at the Ryman Hospitality Intercollegiate at Richland Country Club in Nashville, TN.
The Spartans conclude their fall season on a high note and look to carry this momentum into the spring season.
NOTEABLE
** This was the first team title since April of 2019 at the Ryman Hospitality Intercollegiate at Richland Country Club in Nashville, Tenn.
** The 54-hole score of 851 ranks as 4th best in school history
** This marks the first tournament USC Upstate has completed the 54-holes under par since the Autotrader Collegiate Classic at Berkeley Hills CC in Duluth, Ga. in October 2019.
** Alec Prentice's second round 63 sets a school record, besting the 64 from Ryan Cornfield at the Furman Intercollegiate, March 26, 2016.
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