Clemson Finishes 13th at NCAA Regional

Clemson, S.C.—Gracyn Burgess shot an even-par 72 to lead Clemson in the final round of the NCAA Auburn Regional at Saugahatchee Golf Club in Opelika, Ala. The Tigers finished 13^th as a team in the 18-team tournament with a 904 score. The top six teams in the regional advanced to the NCAA National Tournament at the University of Arkansas later this month.

Vanderbilt won the tournament with an 860 score, four-under-par. Florida State was second at 863 and Duke was third at 868. Virginia, Auburn and Tennessee also advanced to the national tournament.

Burgess had the best round by a Clemson golfer at the regional with her final round 72. The freshman from Lexington, S.C. got off to a tough start with a double bogey on the 11^th hole, her second hole of the day. But she played at two-under-par the rest of the round thanks to four birdies. She birdied holes three, four and six on the way to her team best fifth round of even par this year. Burgess played the par three holes at one-under-par for the week, ninth best in the field of 96 players.

Alice Hewson played her 125^th and final round as a Clemson golfer. The four-time All-ACC player had a three-over-par 75 and was Clemson’s top golfer for the tournament with a 224 score, eight-over-par, to finish 49^th. Hewson finished the season with a team best 72.41 stroke average with three top 10s and 12 rounds under par. She finished her career with 46 Clemson records, including most top 10 finishes (17), rounds at par (46), birdies (378) and career stroke average (72.62).

Ana Paula Valdes was Clemson’s second best player on Wednesday with a two-over-par 74.  The junior from Mexico, who will be Clemson’s team leader next year, finished with rounds of 80-74-74 for a 228 total, good enough for 62^nd place. Valdes finished the season with a 73.03 stroke average, second on the team behind Hewson.

Freshman Ivy Shepherd had a 78 in the final round to finish with a 229 total. Shepherd finished the season with a 73.07 stroke average, second best in history by a Clemson freshman, trailing only the 72.91 by Ashlan Ramsey in 2013-14.

Alexandra Swayne shot an 80 on Wednesday and finished at 234. Swayne played the par five holes in two-under-par for the week, best among Clemson golfers.

NCAA Auburn Regional
May 6-8, 2019
Saugahatchee Golf Club
Opelika, Ala
Par 72,   6371 Yards

Team results

1. Vanderbilt 860, 2. Florida State 863, 3.  Duke 868, 4.  Virginia 873, 5.  Auburn 874,  6.  Tennessee 876,  7.  Maryland 879, 8.  East Carolina 881,  9.  Furman 886,  10.  Alabama 895,  11.  Houston 898, 12.  California 900,  13.  Clemson 904,  14.  Kennessaw State 905,  15.  Denver 909,  16.  South Alabama 910,  17.  Murray State 916,  18.  Albany 917.

Clemson Players

49. Alice Hewson 75-74-74/224; 62.  Ana Paula Valdes 80-74-74/228;   67.  Ivy Shepherd 78-73-78/ 229;    67. Gracyn Burgess 77-80-72/229;  82.  Alexandra Swayne 77-77-80/234.

Note:  top 6 teams advance to NCAA National Tournament