Clemson, SC—Andrew Swanson shot a four-under-par 68, and Zack Gordon and Jonathan Nielsen made long putts on their last hole to lead Clemson to a one-under-par 287 team score on Sunday and a ninth-place finish at the Atlantic Coast Conference golf tournament at The Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst, NC.
Clemson’s one-under-par 287 was its best of the tournament and tied for the fourth best on Sunday. Clemson’s Sunday score was better than second ranked North Carolina (288) and sixth ranked Florida State (290).
With the ninth-place finish, Clemson will have a 68-66-1 record in head to head tournament competition for the season when the NCAA determines the tournament field. Teams need to have a .500 or better record to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Clemson will serve as host to the Clemson Regional at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls in Salem, SC, May 15-17. If Clemson is selected the Tigers are guaranteed of playing at the Clemson Regional.
Georgia Tech won the tournament by 16 shots with a dominating 838 score on the par 72 course. The Yellow Jackets shot a tournament best 275 on Sunday. Wake Forest finished second at 854, while Virginia and Duke tied for third at 860. Those four teams will advance to the match play portion of the tournament that will decide the ACC Champion.
Sixth-ranked Florida State (862) and second ranked North Carolina (866) both failed to qualify for match play.
Clemson finished ninth with an 876 score, one shot ahead of Notre Dame (877) and two shots ahead of Boston College (878).
Swanson made a bogey on his first hole, the 10th hole on the course, then played the last 17 holes at five-under par. His 68 was his seventh round in the 60s and his 12th under-par round of the year. He had five birdies on Sunday and finished the tournament with 11, second on the team. The sophomore finished with a one-under-par 215 score for the 54 holes, good enough for 14th place in the 60-player field.
Nielsen had an even-par 72 on Sunday and was the only Tiger in the tournament to shoot 73 or better in all three rounds. He finished 23rd in the individual race with a 218 score, his fifth top 25 finish of the year. He made a par five on the ninth hole, his final hole of the day, when he made a 15-foot putt.
Zack Gordon had a third round 74 to finish at 220 for the tournament, good enough for 34th place. The fifth year senior playing in his fourth ACC Tournament, had 12 birdies for the event, tied for fifth among all players, and best among Tigers. The native of Gaffney now has 385 birdies in his career, 13th in school history. He made a birdie on his final hole, the ninth, thanks to sinking a 22-foot putt. He made a 21-foot birdie putt on his last hole of match play to give Clemson the ACC Championship in 2021.
Kian Rose had his best round of the tournament on Sunday with a one-over-par 73. The sophomore from South Africa finished at 226 for the tournament, 49th place. Alberto Dominquez, a transfer playing in his first ACC Tournament, had a 74 on Sunday to finish at 224 for the 54 holes, good enough for 44th place.
Clemson now awaits a call from the NCAA Regional committee in 10 days. The NCAA Regional begins on Monday May 15.
Team Results 2023 ACC Tournament
April 21-23, 2023
Country Club of North Carolina
Pinehurst, NC
Team Results
1. Georgia Tech 838, 2. Wake Forest 854, 3. Virginia and Duke, 860, 5. Florida State 862, 6. North Carolina and Louisville 866, 8. NC State 871, 9. Clemson 876, 10. Notre Dame 877, 11. Boston College 878, 12. Virginia Tech 896.
Clemson Individuals
14. Andrew Swanson 72-75-68/215; 23. Jonathan Nielsen 73-73-72/218; 34. Zack Gordon 72-74-74/220; 44. Alberto Dominquez 75-75-74/224; 49. Kian Rose 77-76-73/226.
