Tiger Men Open Spring Season in Puerto Rico

Clemson, S.C.—Defending champion Clemson will open the spring portion of its 2017-18 men’s golf schedule Feb. 18-20 at the Puerto Rico Classic at Rio Mar Country Club in Rio Mar, Puerto Rico. The Tigers won the tournament last year with a 19-under-par score of 845.

Two Clemson golfers who helped the Tigers to the team championship last year with top five finishes return to the lineup for Larry Penley’s 35th Clemson team. Bryson Nimmer finished second at this event last year with a 207 score, nine-under-par, while Doc Redman finished fifth with a 212 total.

Nimmer was Clemson’s top golfer this past fall with a 69.75 stroke average, the third best fall stroke average in Clemson history. He was a first-team All-ACC performer last year when he was also an honorable mention All-American.

Redman was the ACC Freshman of the Year last year when he posted a 70.77 stroke average, the second best in school history. The native of Raleigh, NC was a third-team All-American last year.

Redman won the United States Amateur Championship last August and this will be the only regular season tournament that he will play for the Tigers this spring as he has been invited to play as an amateur in three PGA events this spring, including the Masters. His next Clemson tournament will be the ACC Tournament in April.

Three freshmen will round out the Clemson lineup in Puerto Rico. Turk Pettit, who was the top qualifier for the Tigers for this tournament, had a 71.17 stroke average in the fall, second best on the team. He has six under-par rounds in his 11 rounds. Kyle Cottam had a 71.83 stroke average in the fall when he had five rounds in the 60s. Colby Patton will also be in the lineup for the Tigers. Playing as an individual, Patton won the Hummingbird Invitational last fall.

Fifteen teams from around the nation will compete for the championship in Puerto Rico on the par 72 course. Clemson has won the team championship seven times, including three years in a row from 2010-12.

26th Annual Puerto Rico Classic

February 18-20, 2018

Rio Mar Country Club

Rio Mar, Puerto Rico

Clemson Rankings: 16th by Golf Coaches Association, 17th by Golfweek

Clemson Lineup: Bryson Nimmer (Jr., Bluffton, SC, 69.75), Doc Redman (Soph., Raleigh, NC, 71.22), Turk Pettit (Fr., Auburn, Ala. 71.17), Kyle Cottam (Fr., Knoxville, Tenn., 71.83), Colby Patton (Fr.,Fountain Inn, SC 72.11).

Competing Teams (Golfstat rankings)

Alabama (1), Georgia Tech (3), Oklahoma (9), Clemson (17), Kentucky (18), Marquette (33), NC State (37), Northwestern (44), Purdue (52), Middle Tennessee (73), Virginia Tech ( 76), Maryland (77), East Carolina (79), Georgia (93), UNC Greensboro (116).

Course: Rio Mar Country Club, par 72, 6902 Yards

Last Year: Clemson, first place, 845, -19

Clemson Coach: Larry Penley (Clemson ’83), 35th year, 74 tournament victories.