CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson returns to tournament play at the Wake Forest Invitational at famed Pinehurst #2 on Monday, March 4. Jordan Byrd’s team will be one of 12 teams competing in the event that will feature some of the top teams in the nation. The two-day, 54-hole tournament will be played at the site of this year’s United States Open.
Play begins on Monday, March 4 with 36 holes. The final 18 will be played on Tuesday March 5. Live scoring will be available at golfstat.com. The course will play as a par 70 that measures 7,146 yards.
This will be the third tournament of the spring for the Tigers, who won the Battle of Briar’s Creek in February, then finished sixth out of 12 teams in a strong field that included six top 20 teams at the Watersound Invitational in Panama City, FL.
This will be the third consecutive year Clemson has played the Wake Forest Invitational on Pinehurst #2. The Tigers won the event two years ago thanks to co-medalist honors by Colby Patton and Zack Gordon.
Jonathan Nielsen will play the number-one position in the order this year thanks to a team best 71.13 stroke average. He has a team best three top 10 finishes this academic year, including a seventh-place finish at the Watersound two weeks ago.
Sophomore Thomas Higgins will be in the number-two position with a 72.38 stroke average. The native of Ireland had top 10 finishes at the Ka’anpali Classic in Hawaii in October (8th) and a fourth-place finish at Briar’s Creek. He is 11-under-par for his last eight rounds, including a team best 67 at Watersound on Feb. 20th.
Andrew Swanson will be in the number-three position thanks to a 72.56 stroke average. Swanson finished second at Briar’s Creek to lead Clemson to the team victory. The junior from Bluffton, SC has a 71.75 career stroke average thanks to 14 rounds in the 60s.
Alberto Dominguez, a senior transfer from Erskine had a solid 218 score for 54 holes at Watersound. His 72.54 stroke average for the year is third best on the team.
Veteran Kian Rose, a junior from South Africa, also will be in the starting lineup at Pinehurst. Rose has played 26 tournaments and 76 career rounds, more than any other active Tiger. Rose is coming off 22nd-place finish against the strong national field at Watersound.
Freshman Will Baker will play the tournament as an individual. It will be his fourth tournament of the season. He enters with a 74.56 stroke average.
