Clemson, S.C.—Colby Patton and William Nottingham both shot even-par scores of 72 to lead Clemson to a seventh-place finish at the Carpet Classic at The Farm Golf Club in Dalton, Georgia. It was the season opening tournament for Larry Penley’s golf team. The Tigers finished in seventh place, but ended the 54-hole event just four shots out of second in the competitive tournament that featured 15 teams, including seven from the ACC or SEC.
Georgia Tech, the host of the tournament, won the tournament by 20 shots thanks to a team score of 861, three-under-par. Only six of the 81 players in the field broke par on the 7,180 yard course. The average score for the tournament was 75.41. Clemson counted two double bogeys and a quintuple bogey on Sunday and those three holes were the difference between second-place and seventh.
One of the players who broke par was Clemson junior Kyle Cottam, who played the tournament as an individual. The native of Tennessee finished with a 54-hole score of 214 after rounds of 73-70-71. He finished third overall, seven shots behind medalist Luke Schniederjans of Georgia Tech. Cottam finished the tournament with 14 birdies, tied for third in the field and his five-under-par performance on the par five holes was fifth best in the field.
Patton was Clemson’s top golfer for the Tiger team with a 221 score, five-over-par, good enough for a 21st place finish. His 72 in the final round was his best of the tournament. He played the front nine in three-over-par, but played the last nine in three-under, thanks to an eagle on the 12th hole and a birdie on 13.
Nottingham’s round included two birdies, an eagle (also on the 12th) and four bogeys. It was a big improvement for the senior compared to his second round that ended with a score of 79. His 225 score was finished in a tie for 35th.
Jacob Bridgeman had a non-counting score of 79 on Sunday, but was tied for Clemson’s second best golfer for the tournament with a 225 score, also 35th in the final standings. Bridgeman, who had a 71.81 stroke average last year, second on the team, was Clemson’s best golfer over the first 36 holes after consecutive rounds of 73.
Carter Pendley, a native of Dalton, Georgia, had a 78 in the final round as he had seven bogeys and a birdie. His 226 total for 54 holes was 37th best at 10-over par.
Turk Pettit had a 231 score for the three-rounds, but he was Clemson’s best golfer over the last 36 holes with a 146 total. His second round 70 was the best by Tiger golfer in the tournament. He had a 76 on Sunday, but was five-over on the par five 10th hole and one under on the other 17 holes.
Team Results
2019 Carpet Classic
The Farm, Par 72, 7,180 Yards
Sept. 6-8, 2019
1.Georgia Tech 861; 2. North Florida, ETSU, and Charlotte 881; 5. South Carolina and Alabama 883; 7. Clemson and Colorado State 885; 9. Tennessee 893; 10. Florida 895; 11. South Florida and San Francisco 899; 13. Chattanooga 906; 14. Virginia 918; 15. Kennesaw State 924
Clemson Team Members
Clemson Individual: 3. Kyle Cottam 73—70—71/214
