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Tigers to Host Clemson Invitational at The Reserve at Lake Keowee This Weekend

Tigers to Host Clemson Invitational at The Reserve at Lake Keowee This Weekend

Clemson, S.C.—The Reserve at Lake Keowee Golf Club in Sunset, S.C. will be the site of the top women’s golf tournament in the nation this weekend as Clemson plays host to the second annual Clemson Invitational. The Tournament will be played Friday, March 31 through Sunday, April 2.   Competition is slated to begin at 8 a.m. each day.

The 17-team field includes three top 10 teams and seven top 30 teams according to the latest Golfweek/Sagarin rankings released on March 27. On an individual basis, 13 of the top 50, and 23 of the top 100 players in the nation according to the same Golfweek rankings will be playing the challenging par 72 layout at the Reserve at Lake Keowee.

“We are thrilled to have a top-notch field for the 2nd Clemson Invitational at The Reserve at Lake Keowee,” said Clemson Head Coach Kelley Hester. “It will be one of the best fields in the nation this spring. The Reserve is a wonderful host, and we look forward to having some of the top teams in the nation come to the upstate of South Carolina.”

The 17 teams will play the Jack Nicklaus-designed course that opened in 2002. It has been the site of many major events, including one of the courses for the Web.com’s BMW Charity Pro-Am. The Reserve is one of the most picturesque courses in South Carolina and features holes along the emerald waters of Lake Keowee with soaring views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Florida State (4), Florida (5) and Furman (8) will be the three top 10 teams at this year’s event.  The Seminoles are led by Morgane Metraux, the No. 6 ranked player in the nation according to Golfweek. She is the top-ranked player in the field for the Clemson Invitational. Matilda Castren is another outstanding player for the Seminoles of Head Coach Amy Bond. Castren is ranked No. 16 in the nation overall, fifth among ACC players.

Florida is led by Maria Torres, who is ranked 12th in the nation, and Kelly Grassell, who is ranked 22nd. Florida is coming off an 18-shot victory at the Briar’s Creek Invitational in Charleston, S.C.

Furman, who was coached by Hester the previous four years, has three of the top 55 players in the nation in Haylee Harford (#33), Taylor Totland (#45) and Alice Chen (#55).   Furman reached the NCAA national tournament last year and finished 20th in the nation.

Other top 30 teams in the nation who will be coming to The Reserve at Lake Keowee this weekend include Texas A&M (18), Oklahoma (22), Texas (27) and Ohio State (28).

Clemson has had four top-five finishes so far this year, already equaling the total of last season, including the program’s first victory at the UCF Challenge in Orlando, Florida in February.   The Tigers have played a schedule that includes 18 of the current top 25 by Golfweek and 36 head-to-head meetings with top 25 teams.   Clemson has won head-to-head matchups in tournaments against five of the current top 25.

Clemson is led by Alice Hewson, a sophomore from the United Kingdom, who has a 71.79 stroke average, on track to be the best in school history. She is ranked No. 31 in the nation by Golfweek and has had four top 10 finishes in eight events so far this year.

 

Facts on the Clemson Invitational

Dates of Competition: March 31 to April 2

Course: The Reserve at Lake Keowee

Course Address: 931 Reserve Blvd, Sunset, SC 29685

Tee Times begin at 8:00 a.m. each day=

Format:   17 teams, best four scores of five players count towards team score each day.

Field (GW Ranking) Clemson (42), Columbia, Florida State (4), Furman (8), Michigan State, Mississippi State, Ohio State (28), Texas A&M (18), Tulane, Florida (5), Houston (47), Louisville (45), UNC Wilmington, Oklahoma (22), Tennessee (35), Texas (27), Vanderbilt.

Top 50 Players expected to be in field: 6. Morgane Metraux (Florida State), 11. Maddie Szeryk (Texas A&M), 12. Maria Torres (Florida), 16. Matilda Castren (Florida State), 22. Kelly Grassel (Florida), 28. Bianca Fabrizio (Texas &M), 31. Alice Hewson (Clemson), 33. Haylee Harford (Furman), 34. Courtney Dow (Texas A&M), 36. Juliene Soo (Oklahoma), 43. Taylor Tomlinson (Florida), 45. Taylor Totland (Furman), 49. Mart Perez SanMartin (Florida).

2016 Clemson Invitational Results:

  1. Florida 861, 2. Furman 862, 3. Michigan State 864, 4. Vanderbilt 865, 5. Clemson 881, 6. Houston 883, 7. Texas A&M 884, 8. Augusta 885, 9. Oklahoma 888, 10. Tennessee 890, 11. UNC Wilmington 896, 12. Kennesaw State 904, 13. Boston College 916, 14. Virginia Tech 923  

 

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