Clemson, SC—Sophomore Andrew Swanson became the eighth player in Clemson men’s golf history to record a hole-in-one to highlight play for the Tigers during the second round of the Folds of Honor Collegiate at American Dunes golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan.
Clemson stands in 10th place as a team in the 18-team tournament with a score of 598 after 36 holes. The tournament concludes on Wednesday at the par 72 course that was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened last year. Illinois has the team lead after shooting an 11-under-par team score of 277 on Tuesday, the low team round of the day by 11 shots.
Swanson aced the 178-yard seventh hole on Tuesday with a seven-iron. His shot that was into the wind, landed three feet short of the hole, then rolled into the cup. Since the tournament is in its first year, Swanson holds the distinction of making the first ace in tournament history.
Incredibly, it is Swanson’s first hole-in-one on a par three hole. He has twice made a hole-in-one on the same par four hole at Belfair East Golf Course in his hometown of Bluffton, SC. Those shots took place in consecutive years, 2018 and 2019.
Swanson is the first Clemson men’s golfer to score a hole-in-one since April 15, 2017 when Josh Fickes aced the 135-yard 17th hole at the Lonnie Poole Golf Club in Raleigh during the Wolfpack Spring Open.
Swanson’s hole-in-one is the longest by a Tiger golfer since October 26, 2010 when Corbin Mills had an ace on the 183-yard 13th hole at The Golf Club of Georgia. The longest made shot and hole-in-one in Clemson history was recorded by Stephen Poole on November 7, 2004 when he aced the 240-yard eighth hole at The Farm in Dalton, Georgia.
The average score on Tuesday for the 90 players was 76.6 and Clemson’s top four golfers all shot 76. Kian Rose’s 76 gives him a 147 total after two rounds, good enough for 19th place. Jonathan Nielson’s 76 gives him a 148 total after e 36 holes, good enough for 24th place.
Zack Gordon’s 76 gives on Tuesday him a 150 total after two rounds and a #34 ranking in the standings. Carter Pendley’s second round 76 gives him a 153 total after 36 holes, good enough for 43rd in the 90-player field. Swanson’s hole-in-one was the highlight of his second round 77. His 155 total after two rounds is 56th.
Other Clemson golfers who have made a hole-in-one include Michael Hoey (1999), John Engler (1999), Stephen Poole (2004), Brian Duncan (2005), Corbin Mills (2010), William Nottingham (2017) and John Fiches (2017). Alex Boyd is the only Clemson golfer to make a double eagle in competition. He accomplished that feat on April 2, 2011 at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.
