Aug. 4, 2011

BLUFFTON, S.C. - Louisiana Tech golf signee Chandler Vilcheck shot a five-under-par 67 Thursday and is leading a field of 106 of the state's top golfers in the 2011 South Carolina State AM being held at Colleton Rivers Dye Golf Course.

The 72-hole event is the 80th edition of the Palmetto State's finest amateur golfers squaring off at the breathtaking Dye Course at Colleton River Plantation.

Vilcheck holds a one stroke lead over three other competitors and is one of 21 golfers who shot in the red numbers during the opening 18 rounds of the event which will run through Sunday.

The Bluffton native signed with Tech in November and is rated as one of the Top 25 golfers in his class in the state of South Carolina. Vilcheck plays on the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT), which is a regional tour that includes Florida, South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina.

Vilcheck chose Louisiana Tech over offers from Wake Forest and Furman. Tech fans can follow Vilcheck during the next three days by logging onto www.scamateur.com.