Clemson Invitational Begins Friday at The Reserve at Lake Keowee

Clemson, S.C.—Competition in the second annual Clemson Invitational women’s golf tournament will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, and the Tigers will be in the first group off the first tee.   Clemson will be paired with fourth-ranked Florida State and Houston for the first round at the Jack Nicklaus designed Reserve at Lake Keowee Golf Club in Sunset, S.C.

The 17-team tournament includes three of the top 10 teams, seven of the top 30 teams, and 23 of the top 100 players in the nation.

Clemson’s first player off the first tee on Friday at 8: 00 a.m. will be junior Marisa Messana. Clemson players following her in nine-minute intervals will be Sydney Legacy, Ana Paula Valdes, Kennedy Swann and Alice Hewson. Hewson is ranked No. 31 in the nation and already has four top 10 finishes on her resume this year.

Three Clemson players will participate as individuals. Senior Jessica Hoang will start at 12:03 p.m., Ashley Czarnecki at 12:12 p.m. and McKenzie Talbert at 12:21 p.m.

Play in the three-day 54-hole tournament will continue Saturday and Sunday with tee times beginning at 8 a.m. each day. For complete tee times and results go to golfstat.com.

“We are thrilled to have a top notch field for the 2nd Clemson Invitational at The Reserve at Lake Keowee,” said Clemson Head Coach Kelley Hester. “It will be one of the best fields in the nation this spring. The Reserve is a wonderful host and we look forward to having some of the top teams in the nation come to the upstate of South Carolina.”

Florida State (4), Florida (5) and Furman (8) will be the three top 10 teams at this year’s event. Other top 30 teams in the nation who will be coming to The Reserve at Lake Keowee include Texas A&M (18), Oklahoma (22), Texas (27) and Ohio State (28).

Clemson has had four top five finishes so far this year, already equaling the total of last season, including the program’s first victory at the UCF Challenge in Orlando, Florida in February.   The Tigers have played a schedule that includes 18 of the current top 25 by Golfweek and 36 head-to-head meetings with top 25 teams.   Clemson has won head-to-head matchups in tournaments against five of the current top 25.

Facts on the Clemson Invitational

Dates of Competition: March 31 to April 2

Course: The Reserve at Lake Keowee

Course Address: 931 Reserve Blvd, Sunset, SC 29685

Tee Times begin at 8:00 a.m. each day

Format:   17 teams, best four scores of five players count towards team score each day.

Field (GW Ranking) Clemson (42), Columbia, Florida State (4), Furman (8), Michigan State, Mississippi State, Ohio State (28), Texas A&M (18), Tulane, Florida (5), Houston (47), Louisville (45), UNC Wilmington, Oklahoma (22), Tennessee (35), Texas (27), Vanderbilt.

Top 50 Players expected to be in field: 6. Morgane Metraux (Florida State), 11. Maddie Szeryk (Texas A&M), 12. Maria Torres (Florida), 16. Matilda Castren (Florida State), 22. Kelly Grassel (Florida), 28. Bianca Fabrizio (Texas &M), 31. Alice Hewson (Clemson), 33. Haylee Harford (Furman), 34. Courtney Dow (Texas A&M), 36. Juliene Soo (Oklahoma), 43. Taylor Tomlinson (Florida), 45. Taylor Totland (Furman), 49. Mart Perez SanMartin (Florida).