Clemson Trio Begins Play in US Amateur on Monday

Clemson, S.C.—Clemson golfers, past, present and future all will begin play Monday in the 2016 United States Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield, Michigan.  The tournament will be held August 15-21.

Three-hundred and twelve amateurs will begin play on the North and South courses at the Oakland Hills Country Club on Monday.  The 312 players will play one round on each course over the two days.  The top 64 players at the end of 36 holes of stroke play will advance to match play and that single elimination competition will determine the overall champion. Each finalist will most likely earn an invitation to the 2017 Masters.

Current Clemson sophomore Bryson Nimmer, former Tiger Miller Capps and incoming freshman Doc Redman have all qualified.   Nimmer and Capps completed 36 holes of qualification on July 26 and Redman qualified on July 11.

It is the second consecutive year that Capps has qualified for the U.S. Amateur.   He reached match play last year where he was defeated in the first round by Austin James.  It will be the first appearance for Nimmer and Redman.

Nimmer was the medalist at the qualifying tournament at Amelia National Country Club in Fernandina Beach, Fla. after shooting rounds of 66-66 for a 132 total.  He won the qualifier by five shots over Calum Masters of Headland, Ala.  Nimmer had 16 birdies over the two days to finish at 12-under-par for the two rounds.

Nimmer just completed a decorated freshman year at Clemson. He was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and was a first-team All-ACC selection on the course and also was named first-team Academic All-ACC.    This summer Nimmer finished sixth at the Dogwood Invitational, sixth at the Players Amateur and third at the South Carolina Amateur.

Capps had rounds of 68-68 in qualifying at the site at Benvenue Country Club in Rocky Mount, NC.  He just completed an outstanding four-year career as a starter for Larry Penley’s golf team.  He was an All-Region selection this past year and finished ninth at the ACC Tournament.  He was third on the Clemson team in stroke average and finished his career with over 400 birdies, sixth in Clemson history.

Redman, who won the South Carolina 4A State title this past May and finished second at the Palmetto Amateur this summer, was the third qualifier at the Carolina Trace qualifier in Sanford, N.C.  He had rounds of 71-67 to finish at 138.  

This marks the second straight year Clemson has had three representatives in the US Amateur.  In 2015 at Olympia Fields in Illinois, Capps and Billy Kennerly each advanced to match play and Carson Young played the 36 holes of stroke play.   Chris Patton is the only golfer with ties to Clemson to win the US Amateur.  He was the champion at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Penn., in 1989.