CLEMSON, S.C. — Oscar Bredkjaer had an opening round 68, and Rich Wills had a 36-hole score of two-under-par 142 on Monday to lead Clemson to an eighth-place standing out of 12 teams at the Invitational at The Honors Course in Chattanooga, TN.
The field that played 36 holes on Monday, includes seven of the top 10 teams in the nation. Mississippi has a one-shot lead at 10-under-par 566, while Vanderbilt is second at 567. Virginia, regarded as the top team in the ACC, is third at seven-under par 569 and Auburn, NCAA Champion in 2024, is fourth at six-under-par 570. Oklahoma is fifth at 571, Tennessee is sixth at 579, Pepperdine is at 582, one shot ahead of Clemson.
The field will complete the tournament at the course that has been the site of the US Amateur and the NCAA National Tournament (twice) on Tuesday.
Holm-Bredkjaer’s opening round 68 was the best score ever by a Clemson golfer on the Honors Course, at 7,635 yards, one of the longest and most difficult Clemson will play this year. He broke the record 69 turned in by Richard Coughlan in the second round of the 1996 NCAA national tournament, and a 69 by Luke Hopkins in the first round in 2010.
Holm-Bredkjaer’s opening round included six birdies and two bogeys. It was his second round of 68 or better this year. He had a second-round 76 and stands at even par through 36 holes, good enough for 17th place.
Rich Wills had rounds of 69 and 73 on Monday and his 142 total is good enough for 12th place in the 69-player field. Wills had four birdies and just one bogey in the first round.
Lucas Augustsson is also at even par for 36 holes thanks to rounds of 75-69 for a 144 total. The played bogey free golf his first 16 holes in the second round before making a bogey on the eighth hole, his 17th of the day. He made three birdies in a row at one point in his opening round.
Thomas Higgins, who had a top 10 in the opening tournament of the year at Myrtle Beach, had a pair of 77s on Monday and is at 10-over-par for 36 holes, 55th place. He finished strong on Monday playing the last 12 holes at even par.
Sophomore Colin Salema struggled to an 83 in the opening round, then improved by seven shots in the second round to finish at 159 for the day.
Live scoring will be available on HERE on Tuesday.
