Clemson, S.C.—Freshman Carter Pendley shot an even-par 72, and Jacob Bridgeman and Colby Patton added one-over-par scores of 73 on Friday to lead Clemson to a 292 team score and a third-place standing out of 15 teams at the Carpet Classic at The Farms Golf Club in Dalton, Georgia. The 15-team field will continue play Saturday and Sunday at the par 72 course that is 7,180 yards in length.
Georgia Tech has the team lead at four-under-par 284, six shots ahead of second-place North Florida and eight shots ahead of the Tigers. South Florida is in fourth place at 293 and South Carolina stands fifth at 295, one shot ahead of sixth-place Alabama. Virginia is the only other ACC team in the field and the Cavaliers are in 14th place at 310.
The course played more difficult than in past years as the average score for the first round for the 81 players was 75.86. Only 13 players in the 81-player field shot par or better.
Pendley, who is a native of Dalton, Ga. and has played The Farm many times, was one of those players, as his 72 that included five birdies. He shot an even-par 36 on each nine. He had a wild front nine as he had just two pars, but was more consistent on the back with one birdie, one bogey and seven pars.
Bridgeman’s 73 included the only eagle by a Tiger golfer on Friday as he made a three on the par five 12th hole, one of just five eagles on the hole. Bridgeman had a 35 on the back nine after a 38 on the front. Patton had 15 pars on the way to his 73, more than any other player in the field. Bridgeman and Patton are tied for 14th individually.
Senior William Nottingham also had a counting score with a two-over-par 74 and is in a tie for 25th place. The native of Tennessee had four bogeys and two birdies, but played the back nine at even par.
Junior Turk Pettit, who was Clemson’s top golfer during team qualifying leading into this tournament, shot an 85. Kyle Cottam is playing the tournament as an individual and shot a one over par 73. He did have six birdies, second in the field and is in 14th place.
Clemson players will begin play on Saturday morning at 9:40 a.m. The Tigers will play with Georgia Tech and North Florida. Live scoring is available on golfstat.com.
