Clemson, S.C.—Jacob Bridgeman, Turk Pettit and William Nottingham all had top 10 finishes and Kyle Cottam had a final round 69 to finish 16th to lead Clemson to a second-place team finish out of 14 teams at the Kiawah Invitational at Oak Point Golf Club on Kiawah Island, SC.
Clemson had the best score of the 14 teams in each of the last two rounds, but Wake Forest was 16 shots better than Clemson in the opening round on Monday, and thus won the tournament with an 827 score, 37-under-par. The Tigers were second 836, 28-under, while Kentucky was third at 839. East Tennessee State was fourth at 840, while Iowa and UNC-Wilmington tied for fifth at 850.
Bridgeman finished sixth after a final round 68 that included birdies on each of the last two holes and four birdies and no bogeys in the final 11. It was the second straight top-six finish for Bridgeman, who entered the tournament ranked first in the nation among Division I college golfers according to Golfweek/Sagarin ranking.
Pettit and Nottingham both finished in a tie for 10th. Both players had second-round scores of six-under-par 66. Nottingham finished the tournament with 15 birdies, tied for third-best in the field. Pettit had a final round 71, as both Tigers finished with 54-hole scores of six-under par 210.
Cottam finished the 54 holes at 212 and in 16th place. He and Bridgeman were the only Tigers to shoot par or better in all three rounds. Cottam had rounds of 72-71-69 for his four-under-par total on the par 72 course. He had four birdies and just one bogey in the final round on Tuesday.
Colby Patton also had a solid tournament with a one-under-par score of 215, good enough for 30th in the 90-player field. His second-round 69 was his best of the tournament.
Clemson was outstanding on the par three (-9) holes and par four holes (+5), leading the 14 teams in both categories. The Tigers team combined for 65 birdies and an eagle, second in the field to champion Wake Forest in under-par holes.
Zack Gordon and Carter Pendley both played as individuals. Gordon had 18 birdies to finish second in the field in that category and finished his 54 holes with a 211 score, tied for 13th best in the field and best among players who were participating as individuals. Pendley had rounds of 71-71-74 in recording a career best score of 216 to finish in a tie for 35th place.
Clemson will return to action at the Palmetto Intercollegiate at the Palmetto Club in Aiken, SC on March 8-9. Clemson is the defending champion. It was the last tournament Clemson played last year before the pandemic shut down the season.
Kiawah Invitational
Oak Point Golf Club, Kiawah Island, SC
Feb. 15-16, 2021
Team Results
1.Wake Forest 827, 2. Clemson 836, 3. Kentucky 839, 4. ETSU 840, 5. Iowa and UNC Wilmington 850, 7. Purdue 852, 8. Ohio State 856, 9. Wisconsin 861, 10. College of Charlestonn 862, 11. Rutgers 866, 12. Michigan State 871, 13. Maryland 872, 14. East Carolina 892.
Clemson Players
Competing as Individuals
