Clemson, S.C—Larry Penley’s Clemson golf team travels to Jacksonville, Fla. this weekend to participate in the John Hayt Collegiate at Sawgrass Country Club. The 14 teams in the tournament will play 36 holes on Sunday, March 28, and 18 on Monday, March 29.
The field includes five top 25 teams according to the latest Golfstat rankings. That list of ranked teams includes top-ranked Florida State, third-ranked Florida State, and the 14th ranked Tigers.
North Florida serves as the host of the tournament. Other schools in the 14-team field include ACC rival Louisville, Augusta, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Jacksonville, Liberty, South Florida, UAB, UCF, and USC Upstate. Liberty is ranked 15th and South Florida 23rd by Golfstat.
The Tigers will take a veteran team to the John Hayt, as the lineup will feature four seniors and a junior. Four of the five players competed in the 2019 John Hayt when the Tigers finished sixth. It is Clemson’s second appearance in the Hayt. The Tigers finished sixth of 15 teams in 2019 with an 892 score.
Leading the way this year is junior Jacob Bridgeman, who enters the tournament with a 68.67 stroke average. The native of Inman, SC scored under par in each of his first 11 rounds this year, tying the Clemson record for consecutive under-par rounds that is also held by Charles Warren, who accomplished the feat during the 1997-98 season. Bridgeman ranks eighth according to Golfstat and already has two tournament wins and three top 10s.
Senior Turk Pettit has three top 10s in three tournament appearances this year and is coming off a fourth-place at the Valspar Collegiate two weeks ago. Pettit, who is ranked 20th in the nation by Golfstat, has five-under-par rounds and a 70.11 stroke average. He is 14-under par for his nine rounds.
Colby Patton is a third Tiger ranked in the top 100 in the nation with a #85 rating by Golfstat. He is coming off a top 10 finish at the Valspar and has five consecutive under-par rounds entering the tournament, the longest streak of his career. He has a 70.92 stroke average for his 12 rounds so far this year.
Veterans Kyle Cottam and William Nottingham will also be in the Clemson lineup in Florida. Cottam has a 72.00 stroke average with four under-par rounds. He was Clemson’s second-best golfer at the Palmetto when he finished 10th with a two-under-par score, helping the Tigers to the team title. Nottingham will be playing his 43rd career tournament at Clemson. He has a 72.58 stroke average this season and has two top 12 finishes.
Junior Zack Gordon will compete in the tournament as an individual. Gordon has a 71.89 stroke average for his nine rounds so far this year.
Live scoring will be available on golfstat.com.
