Clemson, S.C.—Zack Gordon and Turk Pettit combined for two victories on Monday to lead Clemson to a 4-2 triumph over Ohio State at the Jack Nicklaus Invitational at famed Muirfield Village Golf Course in Dublin, Ohio. The par 72 course has been the site of the PGA’s Memorial Tournament since 1976.
The 14th ranked Tigers will face seventh-ranked Duke in the championship of the match play tournament on Tuesday. Duke defeated Florida State in the other match on Monday.
It marked the second straight year Clemson advanced to the championship of the Jack Nicklaus Invitational. Last year Clemson advanced with a tied match against Ohio State and a victory over Georgia. The championship match against Georgia Tech was rained out and the schools were declared co-champions.
The Tigers and Buckeyes played alternate shot in the morning 18 and best ball in the afternoon in the Ryder Cup formatted tournament. Tomorrow, Clemson and Duke will play straight singles match play. While Duke is ranked higher in the polls than the Tigers, Clemson defeated Duke by 12 shots in finishing third at the Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational last weekend in Portland, Oregon. That of course was a stroke play competition.
Gordon and Pettit defeated Jonerik Alford and Kevin Stone in the morning alternate shot 4&2, then won the afternoon best ball, 1-up. Gordon and Pettit combined for 10 birdies and an eagle over their two rounds on Monday.
Jacob Bridgeman and Colby Patton combined for a 2& 1 win over Felix Kvarnstrom and Grant Engle in the morning alternate shot, but the Ohio State duo came back to win the best ball round in the afternoon by the same score.
Clemson’s Kyle Cottam and William Nottingham tied Ohio State’s Jackson Chandler and Patrick Schmucking in both matches. The Clemson team won the 17th hole in the morning to tie the count, then the Ohio State team won the 18th hole in the afternoon to tie the score.
Live results are available on golfstat.com.
Jack Nicklaus Invitational
Muirfield Village, Dublin, Ohio
October 7, 2019
Morning Alternate Shot
Bridgeman-Patton (Clemson) d. Kvarnstrom-Engle (Ohio State) , 2&1
Cottam-Nottingham (Clemson) t. Chandler Schmucking
Gordon-Pettit (Clemson) d. Alford-Stone (Ohio State) 4&2
Afternoon Best Ball
Kvarnstrom-Engle (OSU) d. Bridgeman-Patton (Clem) 2&1
Cottam-Nottingham (Clem) t. Chandler-Schmucking (OSU)
Gordon-Pettit (Clem) d. Alford-Stone (OSU) 1 up
