Tiger Men Open Play in Clemson Invitational on Friday

Clemson, S.C.—Clemson is the highest ranked team in the second annual Clemson Invitational scheduled for this coming weekend (April 7-9) at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls in Sunset, S.C. Larry Penley’s Tigers are the defending champion and his squad already has five wins this season, including each of the last four, the longest streak in school history.

Joining the Tigers for the Clemson Invitational are Alabama, Boston College, College of Charleston, Elon, Furman, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Michigan State, Navy, SMU, UNC-Wilmington, and Winthrop.

Alabama won the National Championship in 2013 and 2014, while SMU has been a perennial top 25 team in recent years, including a top five finish in 2014. Georgia Tech is ranked 19th in the nation and won the 2015 ACC Championship after battling the Tigers to a tie after regulation play. Clemson then won the title last year. Louisville is another ACC team that will bring a challenge for the tournament title. Michigan State is one of the top teams in the Big 10 and has a No. 33 national ranking.

Clemson ranks second in the nation in tournament wins so far this year with five, the second most wins in school history. Only the 2002-03 Clemson team won more with six, including the NCAA Championship. The Tigers are currently ranked 14th by Golfweek, 15th by the Golf Coaches Association and 16th by Golfstat.

Clemson has been led by freshman Doc Redman with a 69.96 stroke average. That is the top stroke average among freshmen nationally and eighth best overall in the nation.   The rookie from Raleigh, N.C. ranks second in the nation in stroke average on par five holes and is sixth in eagles. He has two tournament victories and five top five finishes.

Senior Carson Young will play the No. 1 position in the Clemson lineup. Fresh off his first collegiate victory at the Furman Invitational a week ago, Young has a career best 70.92 stroke average with 13 under-par rounds. Young will play his 100th career round for Clemson on Saturday.

Bryson Nimmer has been a national top 60 player most of the year and has a 70.79 stroke average for the season. He has four top 10 finishes including a second-place at the Puerto Rico Classic and a fifth-place finish at Furman.   Austin Langdale will be No. 4 in the Clemson lineup with a 72.20 stroke average. The senior from Pendleton has 310 career birdies, more than any other active Tiger.

William Nottingham is another freshman who will be in the Clemson lineup. The native of Kingsport, Tenn. has a 73.11 stoke average and has played his best golf this spring with three straight top 15 finishes and six rounds at 72 or better.

Josh Fickes, Peter Mathison and Jonathan Rector all will play as individuals.   Coleman Self is red-shirting this year.

The Clemson Invitational will feature 13 teams with all three teams playing 18 holes a day, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.   Live scoring will be available on golfstat.com. Play will begin on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. with teams going off the 1st and 10th tees.