CLEMSON, S.C. — Jacob Bridgeman made the 100th round of his Clemson career special with a four-under-par 68 to lead Clemson to a 280 team round and a three-place improvement in the standings at the Watersound Invitational at Shark’s Tooth Golf Club in Panama City. The Tigers improved from eighth-place to fifth and stand just two shots out of third and nine shots out of first entering Tuesday’s final round on the par 72 course that measures 7,202 yards.
Georgia Tech has the team lead at 14-under-par 562, six shots better than Virginia Tech. Alabama is third at four-under-par 572, while fourth-ranked North Carolina is fourth at 573. Clemson is tied with Notre Dame for fifth place at 574, and just one shot ahead of seventh-place NC State.
Clemson shot four-over-par as a team on the back nine, the team’s first nine of the day, then played the front nine in 12-under-par to move from 10th place to fifth place over the day.
Kyle Cottam (70), Colby Patton (71) and Kian Rose (71) all had under-par rounds to support Bridgeman at the 14-team event that features 12 ACC teams plus SEC squads Alabama and Arkansas.
Bridgeman had five birdies and just one bogey on the day, as he recorded his fifth round in the 60s this year and 40th of his career. The native of Inman, S.C. became just the third player in Clemson history to reach 40 career rounds in the 60s, as he joined Bryson Nimmer (48) and D.J. Trahan (45). His 71.03 career stroke average is second only to Doc Redman (70.70) and just ahead of Turk Pettit (71.04) on the Clemson all-time list.
Bridgeman jumped into the top 10 at this tournament with the four-under par score on Monday and stands in a tie for sixth place at 141 entering the final round Tuesday. He won this tournament last year at a different course.
Kyle Cottam joined Bridgeman with a 32 on the front nine, the team’s second nine of the day. The Clemson “Super Senior” had four birdies and five pars on the front nine and finished with a 70, his 42nd career under-par round. Cottam stands in 18th place at 143 after 36 holes.
Colby Patton had a second round 71 that included a 33 on the front nine. His round was highlighted by an eagle three on the par five fifth hole. It was his second eagle of the year and 10th of his career, more than any other active Tiger. Patton stands at 145 after two rounds, tied for 31st place.
Rose had another solid round with a one-under-par on Tuesday and stands in a tie with Patton at 145 (31st place). The freshman from South Africa has 25 pars through the first two rounds, first among Tigers.
Zack Gordon had a second round 77 and stands in 56th place at 151 through 36 holes.
Live scoring will be available for the final round at golfstat.com
