CLEMSON, S.C. — Just four days after returning from the first tournament of the Spring in The Bahamas, the Clemson men’s golf team returns to the course Sunday in Panama City, Fla. The Tigers will compete in the Watersound Invitational Feb. 20-22.
Clemson opened its 2020-21 season at this tournament in January of 2021 after COVID-19 prohibited ACC schools from competing in the fall of 2020. But, this year’s event will be at a different course in the same area. Shark’s Tooth Golf Club, a par 72 that measures 7,202 yards will serve as host this year.
Fourteen teams will be in the field, 12 from the ACC and two SEC teams, Alabama and Arkansas. The ACC teams in the field include Clemson, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Duke, Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Louisville, Virginia Tech, NC State, Virginia, Florida State and Boston College.
This is a popular event for ACC teams because Shark’s Tooth Golf club will also be the site of this year’s ACC Tournament, April 22-25.
Jacob Bridgeman won medalist honors at this tournament last year when it was held at nearby Camp Creek Golf Club. Bridgeman fired a 15-under-par score of 201 to win the event by five shots, tied for the second largest margin of victory in Clemson history. His 15-under-par tied for the third best score vs. par in school history. He helped Clemson to a third-place finish out of the 10 teams in the field.
Bridgeman will play number-one in the Clemson lineup this week. The senior has a 72.42 stroke average for 12 rounds with four rounds in the 60s. His career stroke average of 71.04 is second in Clemson history. His second round at the Watersound Invitational will be the 100th of his career.
Three other seniors will be in the Clemson lineup at the Watersound Invitational. Zack Gordon is coming off a sixth-place finish at the Albany Collegiate. The native of Gaffney, SC has a 71.92 stroke average so far this year for his 12 rounds. He has three rounds in the 60s this year, and 14 for his career.
Kyle Cottam has a 72.42 stroke average so far this year for his 12 rounds. He had a fifth-place finish at the Maui Jim to open the season when he shot 11 under par. He is coming off a 16th place finish in The Bahamas.
Colby Patton is coming off a second-place finish at the Sharkey Individual tournament. The graduate student who is studying for his MBA has a 72.67 stroke average this year, just below his 72.68 average for his career. He has seven career top 10 finishes, including his ninth place finish at this tournament last year.
Kian Rose is the only non-senior in the Clemson lineup for this tournament. The red-shirt freshman from South Africa has a 72.83 stroke average this year. He was Clemson’s second best player in The Bahamas with a 12th place finish, the top finish of his young career.
Clemson will be paired with Boston College and Duke for the opening two rounds and will begin play Sunday at 10:40 a.m. Live scoring for the Watersound Invitational will be available on golfstat.com.
