Tigers Finish Eighth at The Hayt

CLEMSON, S.C. — Four Clemson golfers posted under-par rounds to lead Clemson to an eighth-place finish and a winning record at the John Hayt Collegiate at Sawgrass Country Club in Jacksonville, Fla. on Monday.

The Tigers played the final two holes in six-under-par to improve from 11th place to eighth place in the final standings.   It was not a surprise as Clemson played the front nine at -14 under par and the back at three over par.  Clemson played the back nine first all three rounds.

The 16-team field included seven top 25 teams, including three of the top six. Six of the seven teams to finish ahead of Clemson entered the tournament ranked in the top 21 of the country.

 Clemson finished with a score of 11-under par 865 on the par 72 course.   The Tigers finished with an 8-7 record against the field and recorded wins over 15th ranked Alabama and #20 Duke.  The Tigers finished just two shots behind top ranked Virginia.

Coin Salema, Lucas Augustsson and Rich Walls all had rounds of two-under-par 70 on Monday and Oscar Bredkjaer recorded a one-under 71.

Bredkjaer, Clemson’s top golfer this year with a 72.14 stroke average,  was Clemson’s top golfer of the tournament with a seven-under-par 209 for his 54 holes. That tied for the best 54-hole score vs. par for a Clemson golfer this year.

The transfer from San Francisco had rounds of 69-69-71 to finish ninth in the tournament that included 12 of the top 25 golfers in the nation.   Bredjkaer  had a 4.33 stroke average on par five holes to key his tournament, fifth best in the field.

Colin Salema had a 70 on Monday after rounds of 73 and 69 to open the tournament.  He finished 20th in the field of 90 golfers with a 212 total after rounds of 73-69-70.    It was his second consecutive top 20 finish and his fourth top 25 of the year.

Lucas Augustsson also had a 70 on Monday and finished the tournament with a 213 score after scores of 72-71-70 to finish in 27th place.   It was his first tournament with three consecutive rounds at par or better this year.

 It was a wild ride for the senior on Monday as he had eight birdies, four bogeys and a double.   He had six birdies on the back nine.    He finished the tournament with 16 birdies, most in the field, and tied for his most in a tournament at Clemson.

Rich Wills  also had a 70 on Monday, by far his best round of the tournament after scores of 73 and 76 in the opening two rounds.  His 219 score for 54 holes was 59th.  It was his fifth under par round of the year.

Freshman Jackson Byrd had his best round of the tournament with a 74.  He was one under par through 13 holes, but a double bogey on his final nine put him over par.

Clemson’s next tournament will bet The Hootie in Mount Pleasant, SC at Bulls Bay, March 21-23.