Clemson, S.C.—The Clemson men’s golf team, fresh off a strong third-place finish at the Maui Jim Collegiate in Arizona two weeks ago, returns to the West coast this Sunday thru Tuesday, Sept 29- October 1. Larry Penley’s team will compete in the Nike Elite at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Portland, Oregon.
The tournament features 15 of the top teams in college golf. The field includes new number-one ranked Duke (Golfweek Poll, September 27) and second ranked Wake Forest. The Tigers are ranked 17th by Golfweek. The field also includes perennially strong teams Georgia, Baylor, Florida, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Southern California, Stanford, TCU, Texas, and Vanderbilt.
Clemson will make its fifth straight appearance at the Nike Elite. The tournament alternates each year between Pumpkin Ridge and Colonial Country Club. Last year Clemson finished fourth at Colonial. The last time the tournament was at Pumpkin Ridge the Tigers also finished fourth with a score of 15-under-par.
Penley will take the same lineup he used at the Maui Jim Intercollegiate. That means a veteran group that will include one senior, three juniors and a sophomore. Three of the five players were in Penley’s lineup at Pumpkin Ridge two years ago.
Kyle Cottam has the top stroke average on the team at 70.67 entering the tournament. He shot even par at the Maui Jim and two-under at the Carpet Classic playing as an individual. The junior shot a 214, including a final round 68, at Pumpkin Ridge two years ago when he finished 33rd.
Turk Pettit is coming off the best tournament of his career. His 198 at the Maui Jim was good enough for second place and tied for the second best 54-hole score in school history. That performance included a seven-under-par 63 in the second round, a big reason he shot 12-under for the weekend. Pettit has battled a flu bug this week and missed three days of practice, but was on the trip Friday afternoon. Pettit shot a 217 at Pumpkin Ridge two years ago.
Senior William Nottingham will play his 100th career round for Clemson on Sunday. He has a strong 71.67 stroke average so far this year with four rounds at par or better. The academic All-ACC performer finished 18th at the Maui Jim after shooting a 54-hole score of 205, the best of his career. Two years ago Nottingham was Clemson’s third best player at Pumpkin Ridge with a 54-hole score of 213, even par.
Junior Colby Patton and sophomore Jacob Bridgeman will each make their first trip to Pumpkin Ridge for the Tigers. Patton has a 71.17 stroke average through two tournaments, second best on the team, while Bridgeman is third at 71.33. Patton was Clemson’s best player at the Carpet Classic with a 221 score, while Bridgeman has been Clemson’s second best at each of the first two tournaments. He finished 12th at the Maui Jim with a 203 score, seven-under-par.
Scoring will be available on golfstat.com.
Course: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Witch Hollow (par 72, 7,017 yards)
Field: Georgia, Baylor, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Southern Cal, Stanford, TCU, Texas, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest.
Live Results: Golfstat will provide team and individual results, pairings, and tee times.
Last Season: The Bulldogs competed in this event a season ago at Colonial Country Club in Texas, placing 10th.
