Clemson, S.C. — Clemson senior Bryson Nimmer fired a final round 69 and finished 47th at the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach Golf and Country Club near San Juan, Puerto Rico on Sunday. Nimmer played in the event as an amateur and will continue to compete for the Clemson golf team for the rest of the academic year.
Nimmer had rounds of 69-75-71-69 for a 285 total, three under par for the 72 holes. The native of Bluffton, S.C. is the first Clemson golfer to have two rounds in the 60s in the same PGA Tour event while still a Clemson student. His 47th place finish was the best by a Clemson amateur in a PGA Tour event since Chris Patton finished 39th at the 1990 Masters. Nimmer joined Patton and former teammate Doc Redman as the only active members of the Clemson golf team to make the cut at a PGA Tour event.
Nimmer had five birdies and two bogeys on Sunday in making a nine-place improvement in the standings. He made birdies on each of the first two holes. For the round he had an average drive of 291.5, his best day of the week, and also reached greens in regulation 13 of 18 holes, his best of the week in that area as well.
A highlight of the round for Nimmer might have been his last hole. He had made a bogey on the 18th hole in each of the first three rounds. But, he got up and down from a bunker to make par on the last hole on Sunday.
Nimmer would have won $8,700 if he had been a professional.
Former Clemson All-Americans D.J. Trahan and Jonathan Byrd did earn money at the Puerto Rico Open. Trahan, who was tied for the lead after two rounds, finished 16th with an eight-under par 280 total to finish 16th in the standings. He won $45,000 and has now won $283,409 for the year. The finish was his third top 20 on the PGA Tour this year.
Byrd, who is a five time winner on the PGA Tour, finished 21st with a 281 total and won $32,400. Each player shot a one-over par 73 on Sunday.
