Clemson Finishes Fifth at Puerto Rico Classic

Clemson, SC – Jacob Bridgeman shot a final round 71 and led Clemson to a fifth-place finish out of 15 teams at the Puerto Rico Classic at the Rio Mar River Course in El Grande, Puerto Rico on Tuesday.  It was the first tournament of the spring for Larry Penley’s 17^th ranked (Golfweek) Tigers.

Number-three ranked Georgia Tech won the tournament with an 832 score, while number-one ranked Oklahoma was second at 834.   Georgia finished third at 845, followed by Alabama at 848 and Clemson at 855, nine-under-par.

Four of Clemson’s golfers shot even par or better for the three rounds.   The team had 47 birdies and a tournament best 188 pars for the three-day event.

Bridgeman had his third straight under par round on the par 72 course with a 71 on Tuesday.  He had rounds of 70-71-71 to finish at 212, four-under par and a tie for 13^th place.  The sophomore already has 10 under-par rounds this year, best on the team.

Senior William Nottingham was Clemson’s second best golfer for the tournament with a one-under-par 215 score, good enough for 28^th place in the field of 75 golfers.  The senior had rounds of 72-69-74.

Turk Pettit and Zack Gordon both finished in 32^nd place at even par 216.  Pettit led the field in par holes with 42, and had just two holes that were not par or birdie over his last two rounds.   Pettit had rounds of 70-72-74 for his 216 total, while Gordon had rounds of 74-68-74.

Kyle Cottam, who shot a 68 in the second round, had a 76 in the final round.  He got off to a rough start on Tuesday, playing the first four holes at five-over-par, then played the last 14 holes at one-under.  He finished 42^nd individually with a 218 score.

Two Clemson freshmen, Carter Pendley and Drayton Stewart, played in the Puerto Rico Individual Classic at the Rio Mar Ocean Course.   Pendley finished 11^th with rounds of 78-75-74 for a 227 total, while Stewart finished 12^th with rounds of 79-75-75 for a 229 total.  Stewart had nine birdies in the tournament to finish tied for third in the field.

Puerto Rico Classic

Feb. 16-18, 2020

Rio Mar River Course, El Grande, Puerto Rico, Par 72

Team Results

1. Georgia Tech 832, 2. Oklahoma 834, 3. Georgia 845, 4. Alabama 848, 5. Clemson 855, 6. Mississippi 856, 7.  College of Charleston 864, 8. Purdue and NC State 865, 10.  Marquette and Iowa 866, 12.  Maryland 875, 13.  Tennessee and Ohio State 882, 15.  East Carolina 894.

Clemson Individual Results

13. Jacob Bridgeman 70-71-71/212; 28.   William Nottingham  72-69-74/215;  32. Turk Pettit 7072-74/ 216;  32.  Zack Gordon 74-68-74/216;  42.  Kyle Cottam 74-68-76/ 218.

Puerto Rico Classic Individual Tournament

At Rio Mar Ocean Course, Par 71

11. Carter Pendley 78-75-74/ 227;  12.  Drayton Stewart 79-75-75/229