Starke, NeSmith Named Golfweek All-Americans

COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) — South Carolina juniors Will Starke and Matt NeSmith have been named Golfweek All-Americans, Golfweek announced Thursday. Starke earned a spot on the second team, while NeSmith garnered third-team honors. The All-American honor is the first for Starke, while NeSmith has been named an All-American for the second time in his career after earning PING Honorable Mention honors as a freshman. With Starke and NeSmith leading the way, the Gamecocks turned in one of the greatest seasons in program history in 2014-15, winning a school record five tournament titles, recording a school-record 10 top-five finishes and shattering the school record for team scoring average in a season by more than four strokes (282.85). A native of Chapin, S.C., Starke led the team with a stroke average of 70.27, which is the lowest for a single season in school history. He finished 16th or better in 10 of 12 events this season, including one tournament win, and matched the school record for top-five finishes in a season with six. He placed 16th at the NCAA Championship with a 72-hole total of 289 (+1). Starke, a first-team All-SEC selection and PING All-Southeast Region selection, shot under par in 26 of 37 rounds this season, including 19 rounds in the 60s. A first-team All-SEC and PING All-Southeast Region selection, NeSmith finished with a season stroke average of 70.51, which ranks second in program history for a single season. He finished in the top 20 in eight of 12 tournaments, including two tournament wins. He became just the second Gamecock to win an SEC title as he claimed a six-stroke victory at the SEC Championship with a school-record 54-hole total of 196 (-14). A native of North Augusta, S.C., NeSmith posted 18 rounds under par, including 14 rounds in the 60s. Earlier this week, NeSmith continued his stellar year by winning a sectional at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Ga. with a 36-hole total of 127 (-17) to qualify for the 115th U.S. Open Championship. NeSmith and former Gamecock All-American Mark Silvers will tee off at the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay on June 18-21 in University Place, Wash.