AWENDAW, S.C. -- Behind a career-low 68 from freshman Ben Dietrich, 24th-ranked South Carolina shot a 281 (-7) on Sunday at Bulls Bay Golf Club to wrap up the opening round of the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate in a tie for first place.
The Gamecocks are tied with Missouri for the lead at 7-under and are in position to earn their fourth tournament title of the season, which would tie the school record. Dietrich, whose previous career low was a 70, is in a three-way tie for the lead at 4-under with Virginia's Derek Bard and College of Charleston's Josh Lorenzetti.
"We played pretty well overall but lost a few shots on the closing holes, and that stings a little," said South Carolina head coach Bill McDonald. "I'm really happy for Ben and the round he played. He's really starting to get comfortable with his game and he looked really good today. We should be in position to make a run at the leaderboard tomorrow and are looking forward to the challenge."
Dietrich was on fire early on as he birdied three of his first four holes and made the turn with a bogey-free 33. He then birdied the 10th and 11th holes and made par No. 12 before recording his only blemish of the day, a double bogey on the par-5 13th. Dietrich made par the rest of the way to get into the clubhouse at 4-under.
College of Charleston and Wake Forest are in a tie for third with a total of 282 (-6), while Virginia and Kentucky round out the top five in a tie for fifth with a total of 283 (-5).
