Clemson, SC—Freshman Thomas Higgins had a top 10 finish in his first college event, headlining the play of three Clemson golfers at the Thomas Sharkey Invitational at the Georgia Southern University Golf Course in Statesboro, Ga.
Higgins had a 54-hole score of even par 216 to finish in sixth place in the individual tournament that featured 62 players from around the South. Higgins had scores of 70-72-74 on the par 72 course that measured 6,876 yards. The native of Ireland finished with nine birdies and 37 pars among his 54 holes for the three rounds. The field played 36 holes on Sunday and 18 on Monday.
Higgins, a native of Roscommon, Ireland, did not play in the fall, but was impressive in many practice rounds. He was one of just nine players to score at par or better for the 54 holes. Parker Claxton of host school Georgia Southern, won the tournament with a nine-under-par score of 207, four shots ahead Predro Cruz Silva of Mississippi State.
Tiger sophomore Sean Curran played in his first event of the year and had a top 25 finish after a 222 score. The native of New Lennox, Ill. shot even-par in each of the first two rounds, then had a 78 in the final round. The course played much tougher on the final day as the average score was 76.
Curran’s tournament included an eagle in the first round on the par five 15th hole. It was the second eagle of his career. Curran played the par five holes in five-under par, among the best scores on par five holes for the tournament.
Austin Scott finished in a tie for 42nd place after rounds of 74-82-74 for a 230 total. The freshman from Daniel Island, SC saw his score on the final day two shots better than the field average on Monday and he improved by eight spots on the leaderboard.
The Clemson team will open the spring team schedule on Feb. 19 at the Watersound Invitational in Panama City, Fla.
