CLEMSON, S.C. — Andrew Swanson fired a three-under-par 69 to lead Clemson to a 293 team score and a ninth-place standing after the first round of the Watersound Invitational at Sharks Tooth Golf Club in Panama City, Fla. It was the first round of the spring season for the Clemson team.
Clemson shot a five-over-par team round of 293. Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech lead the 11-team field at 279, while Alabama is in third at 282. The field includes eight of the top 40 teams and 18 of the top 100 players in the nation in the latest Golfstat rankings. While Clemson is 14 shots out of the lead, the Tigers are only seven shots out of fifth.
Swanson’s round of 69 was his fourth consecutive round in the 60s, as he shot in the 60s in each round at the Ka’anapali Classic in Hawaii to close the fall season. He won that event with a Clemson record 18-under par score. The Clemson record for consecutive rounds in the 60s is six by Bryson Nimmer in 2018-19.
Swanson shot a 32 on the back nine, his first nine of the day, when he made birdie on the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th holes. The four consecutive birdies tied for the longest streak by a Clemson golfer this year. He finished with six birdies on the day, tied for the fourth most in the 69-player field. The sophomore is tied for 10th in the individual standings after 18 holes.
Classmate Sean Curran had an even-par 72 to rank as Clemson’s second best player on Sunday. The native of New Lenox, Illinois is tied for 26th after the first round. He was two over par after four holes, but played the last 13 in two-under. He had a 35 on the front side, his second nine of the day.
Senior Zack Gordon was Clemson’s third best golfer on the day with a two-over-par 74. He had a wild round with five birdies and seven bogeys, and is in a tie for 36th place after 18 holes. The native of Gaffney, S.C. played the first six holes in two under par, then was five over for the next seven, before he played the last five holes in one under.
Freshman Thomas Higgins, who was coming off a sixth place finish in his first career tournament at the Sharkey Invitational, got off to a tough start with a quadruple bogey on the par four 10th hole, his first of the day, and had a double bogey on par four 12th. But he played the last 15 holes at even-par to finish with a 78.
Jonathan Nielsen also got off to a tough start with a quad on his first hole and he finished with a seven-over 79. Drayton Stewart is playing this tournament as an individual and the senior had an opening round 75.
The second round continues on Monday morning at Sharks Tooth. Live scoring is available on golfstat.com.
