Clemson, Hester, Open Season Saturday at Oklahoma

Clemson, S.C.—Clemson’s women’s golf team will open its season Saturday morning at the Schooner Fall Classic in Norman, Okla. The tournament at Belmar Golf Club, will be hosted by the University of Oklahoma and will partnered with the Toby Keith Foundation to raise funds for pediatric cancer patients.

This will be the first tournament for the Tigers under Head Coach Kelley Hester, who became Clemson head coach last spring after leading Furman to a top 20 season and conference championship in 2016.

Clemson will take two juniors, one freshman, one sophomore, and one senior to Belmar Golf Club, a par 70 course that is 6,578 yards in length. Clemson will be led by sophomore Alice Hewson in the No. 1 position. The native of Great Britain was first-team All-ACC and ACC Rookie of the Year in 2016 when she finished with a 73.43 stroke average.    

Freshman Ana Paula Valdes will make her first appearance in the Clemson lineup.  The AJGA All-American joined Hewson as competitors for their respective countries at the World Amateur Team Championship in Mexico last week.

Returning starters Marisa Messana, Sloan Shanahan and Sydney Legacy will also be in the Clemson lineup to open the season.

This year’s field includes third-ranked Alabama,  14^th ranked Kent State, plus 17^th ranked Iowa State and 23^rd ranked Texas A&M.   ACC programs from Florida State, and Notre Dame will join the Tigers in the national field.

Tournament: Schooner Fall Classic

Course: Belmar Golf Club in Norman, Okla. (Par 70, 6,578 yards)

Days of Completion: Saturday, September 24, 10:00 a.m. start, 18 holes; Sunday, September 25 10:00 start, 18 holes; Monday, September 26, 8:30 a.m. start, 18 holes

Teams (12): Alabama (3), Clemson, Florida State, Iowa State (17), Kansas, Kent State (14), LSU, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas A&M (23), Texas State.

Host School: Oklahoma University

Clemson Lineup (Yr, 2016- average): Alice Hewson (So. 73.43), Paula Valdez (Fr.,First Tournament ), Marissa Messena (Jr., 76.00), Sloan Shanahan (Sr.,76.13 ), Sydney Legacy (Jr., 77.07)

Live Scoring:   Golfstat.com