FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Kian Rose and Jonathan Nielsen both had even par rounds of 72 on Monday to lead Clemson to a 292 team score and a tie for third -place standing with Texas A&M out of 11 teams after the first round of the Blessings Collegiate at The Blessings Golf Club in Johnson, Arkansas. The second round will be played on Tuesday and the final round on Wednesday.
All three rounds will be televised by The Golf Channel with coverage each day from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
Clemson played the last three holes at four-under par to move from seventh to third in the final first-round standings. Clemson played the par four holes at five over par, best in the field.
Clemson is just eight shots off the team lead held by host school Arkansas, who shot a four-under par team round of 284. Kansas, who was 11-under-par at one point, finished with a two-under-par team score of 286 and is in second place. Clemson and Texas A&M are tied for third at four-over-par 292, three shots ahead of fifth place Louisville.
Rose and Nielsen stand in a tie for 11th place out of 57 players on the course that played at 7,450 yards on Monday. Zack Gordon and Andrew Swanson shot 74s and are tied for 19th, giving Clemson four players in the top 20 of the national field.
Rose had a wild ride to his even-par, as he had six birdies, tied for third in the field. He had five birdies on the front nine, but he also had three bogeys and a double to finish at even par 36. He had one birdie and one bogey on the back nine to go with seven pars.
Nielsen had nine hole scores of 38-34. His two-under-par back nine included birdies on the 16th and 18th holes to go with pars on the other holes. He played the par four holes in two-under par, third best in the field.
Super Senior Zack Gordon played his 100th career round as a Clemson Tiger on Monday and had a two-over-par 74. His round included an eagle on the 570-yard par five 10th hole. After a 310-yard drive to the fairway, he hit a three-wood 260 yards to within 20 feet of the hole. He then made the putt for the eighth eagle of his career. He was one of just three players to make an eagle on Monday.
Sophomore Andrew Swanson also shot a 74 on Monday. He had a 35 on the front nine, best among Clemson golfers on Monday, then had a 39 on the back. He did make par on each of his last five holes and is in a tie for 19th place with Gordon.
Senior Carter Pendley made two birdies on the front nine, but shot a 40 and finished with a 79, seven over par.
Live scoring is available at golfstat.com.
