CLEMSON, S.C. — Colby Patton fired a second round 68 Monday afternoon to take over the individual lead, and help Clemson to an 11-shot team advantage after two rounds of the Wake Forest Invitational at famed Pinehurst #2 in Pinehurst, N.C.
Clemson has a 580 team score through 36 holes on the par 70 course that is playing to 7125 yards, 11 shots ahead of Duke. East Carolina is third at 592 and host school Wake Forest, ranked 20th in the nation by Golfstat, is fourth at 593. San Francisco and Kentucky are tied for fifth at 594, while NC State is seventh at 592.
The 12 teams in the field played 36 holes on the Pinehurst #2 course in windy conditions for most of the day. Clemson held the team lead at the end of 18 holes by one shot over Duke with a 296 score.
The Tigers improved that team score by 12 strokes in the afternoon. Patton’s 68 was the low individual round of the tournament over the first two rounds. The graduate student pursuing an MBA had four birdies and just two bogeys in that second round, tied for his second lowest round of the year and the 23rd round in the 60s of his career.
“Colby’s 68 in the second round was outstanding,” said Clemson Head Coach Jordan Byrd. “There are usually a lot of bumps out there (greens) on the second 18 of a day when there are 66 players in the field. So it can be tough conditions. But, he really took advantage of the holes that were down-wind on the back nine.” Patton’s 68 included a three-under-par 32 on the back nine.
Patton has a two-shot lead over teammate Zack Gordon and Soren Lind of San Francisco. Gordon was the first round leader after shooting a 71 in the morning and followed that with a strong 72 in the second round. “Zack has great confidence on this course because he played well here a couple of summers ago when he reached the semifinals of the North-South Amateur. He has been like an assistant coach helping his teammates because of his experience here.”
Carter Pendley, Clemson’s number-five player in the lineup entering the tournament, is a third Tiger in the top 10 after two rounds. The junior from Dalton, Ga. had rounds of 75 and 71 and is in ninth place after 36 holes. His 71 tied for the fourth best score in round.
Graduate student Kyle Cottam had an opening round 77, then came back with a 73 in the second round and stands in 22nd place after 36 holes at 150. Kian Rose, who is fighting a back injury, had rounds of 78 and 75 and is in 39th place at 153.
Clemson is playing the tournament without stroke average leader Jacob Bridgeman who is participating in the MacKenzie Tour qualifying tournament.
The Wake Forest Invitational concludes Tuesday at the course that has been the site of the United States Open three times. Live scoring will be available on Golfstat.com.
