Gamecocks Lead Through 36 Holes at Palmetto Golf Club – University of South Carolina Athletics

AIKEN, S.C. – South Carolina rallied down the stretch on Monday to take an eight-shot lead through 36 holes of the Palmetto Intercollegiate. Four of the Gamecocks five players in the lineup this week are inside the top-20 on the leaderboard.

“We rallied late in both rounds today, and I’m really proud of the guys for staying patient out there,” said head coach Bill McDonald. “Palmetto was tough and tricky today. We didn’t putt particularly well either round, but a few fell at the end. We are looking forward to the final round tomorrow.”

Sophomore Nathan Franks is in sixth-place at 4-under overall, two shots off the pace. He fired rounds of 69 (-1) and 67 (-3) on Monday. He made 11 birdies the first 36 holes to lead the team. Franks is joined in the top-10 by junior Rafe Reynolds. Reynolds sits at 3-under with rounds of 70 (E) and 67 (-3). The Greenville, S.C., native, turned in a 4-under, bogey free 32 on the back nine thanks to a pair of birdies and an eagle at the par-5 10^th hole.

Fifth-year senior Evans Lewis and transfer Lansdon Robbins are each T-13^th at even par for the tournament. Lewis shot 70 both rounds while Robbins bounced back from a 2-over 72 with a 2-under 68 this afternoon. Both players turned in eight birdies each the opening 36 holes.

Freshman Zach Adams is T-58^th at 10-over after rounds of 72 (+2) and 78 (+8). The Charleston, S.C., native, made five birdies the opening round but was unable to get the putter going and had just two red numbers on his scorecard in round two.

The Gamecocks are seeking to go back-to-back with another team title at the event, which would be the fifth under McDonald and sixth all-time for the program at historic Palmetto Golf Club.

Carolina will be paired with Wisconsin and Mercer for the final 18 on Tuesday. It’ll be another shotgun start for the field at 9 a.m. (ET). Live scoring will be available again via Golfstat.

2023 Palmetto Intercollegiate Gamecock Leaderboard

6. Nathan Franks – 136 (-4)

T7. Rafe Reynolds – 137 (-3)

T13. Lansdon Robbins – 140 (E)

T13. Evans Lewis – 140 (E)

T58. Zach Adams – 150 (+10)

2023 Palmetto Intercollegiate R2 Leaderboard

1. South Carolina – 553 (-7)

2. Wisconsin – 560 (E)

3. Mercer – 561 (+1)

T4. VCU – 562 (+2)

T4. Davidson – 562 (+2)

6. Furman – 563 (+3)

7. Virginia Tech – 567 (+7)

8. Francis Marion – 569 (+9)

9. Temple – 570 (+10)

10. USC Aiken – 579 (+19)

11. Wofford – 580 (+20)

12. Presbyterian – 588 (+28)

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