Clemson, SC—Clemson will complete its fall portion of the 2018-19 men’s golf schedule at the 5th Annual Ka’anapali Classic in Lahaina, Hawaii this weekend. The Tigers won the event the last time they participated (2016), as Doc Redman won tournament medalist honors thanks to a final round 64.
The Tigers and 20 other collegiate teams will be in action on the par 71 Royal Ka’anapali Course from Friday, November 2 to Sunday, November 4. With 21 teams in the field, the tournament will be played in a shotgun start format with all teams starting on various holes beginning at 8:30 a.m. Hawaii Time.
Clemson is the third highest ranked team in the field with a No. 12 ranking according to Golfweek. Oklahoma is the top team with a No. 6 national ranking and Georgia is second with a No. 11 ranking. Other top teams competing include California (25th), North Florida (29th), Kansas (31st), South Carolina (34th) and West Virginia (41st).
Individually, Colin Morikawa of California is the highest ranked player with a No. 3 ranking according to Golfweek. Clemson’s Bryson Nimmer is fifth and Dan Starzinski of Wyoming is sixth. Trent Phillips of Georgia (7th), gives the field four of the top seven players in the nation.
Clemson Head Coach Larry Penley will use the same five-man lineup he used at the Golf Club of Georgia two weeks ago when the Tigers finished a strong second in a 14-team field that included seven of the top 25 teams in the nation. The Tigers had three of the top 10 finishers in that event held at the Golf Club of Georgia.
Nimmer leads the Tigers with a 68.08 average and has finished in the top 10 in all four of his stroke play events this year, including two victories. He has shot under par in nine of his 12 rounds, including eight rounds in the 60s. He is an incredible 35-under-par for his 12 rounds.
Turk Pettit was Clemson’s top player at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate with a second-place finish and he starts this tournament with a 70.56 stroke average. Pettit has scored in the 60s in four of his last six rounds and has five under-par rounds for the year.
William Nottingham will be Clemson’s No. 3 player and enters with a 71.33 stroke average. He has shot 75 or better in 11 of his 12 rounds this year and has three rounds in the 60s.
A pair of freshmen will round out the Clemson lineup. Jacob Bridgeman has a 72.17 stroke average for 12 rounds so far this year. He is coming off his best tournament, as he finished seventh in a field of 75 golfers at the Golf Club of Georgia where he shot a 211, five-under-par. Zack Gordon finished 29th at the Golf Club of Georgia with a 217 score. He has a 72.33 stroke average for nine rounds of stroke play this year.
2018 Ka’anapali ClassicRoyal Ka’anapali Golf CourseLahaina, HawaiiPar 71, 6700 yardsNovember 2-4, 2018
Format21 teams, shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. HT each day
Teams: Boise State, Long Beach State, UCLA, Clemson, Connecticut, George Washington, Georgia, Gonzaga, Hawaii-Manoa, Houston, Indiana, Kansas, North Florida, Oklahoma, Sacramento State, South Carolina, Southern Illinois, Air Force, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming.
Clemson Lineup: 1. Bryson Nimmer (Sr., 68.08); 2. Turk Pettit (Soph., 70.56); William Nottingham (Jr. 71.33); 4. Jacob Bridgeman (Fr., 72.17); 5. Zack Gordon (Fr. 72.33)
Scoring: Golfstat.com
