CLEMSON, S.C. — Senior Carter Pendley fired a career-best 65 on Sunday to lead Clemson in the final round at its season-opening Maui Jim Intercollegiate at Mirabel Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Tigers finished in a tie for 12th place with New Mexico in the national tournament that included 18 teams.
The field included seven top 25 teams according to Gulfweek Preseason Poll. There were six teams from the ACC and six from the Pac 12.
Auburn won the tournament with a 45-under-par score of 795, while Arizona State was second at 800 and Florida State was third at 805.
Pendley had a bogey free five-under-par 65, the first bogey free round of the year by a Tiger golfer. He eclipsed his career best round of 66, which was set on the same course at the same tournament in rounds one and three last year.
The native of Dalton, Ga. played the back nine first and made the turn at 31 shots thanks to four birdies. Pendley was Clemson’s second best golfer for the 54 hole tournament with a score of 208, two under-par, thanks improving rounds of 73-70-65. He finished in 38th place in the 90-player field. He improved his position in the tournament by 35 places in the final round, tied for the biggest improvement in the field during the final round.
Kian Rose was Clemson’s best golfer for the tournament with a 17th-place finish. He had rounds of 65-67-71 for a 203 total, seven under-par. He had 15 birdies and an eagle for the weekend and played the par three holes in a team best 2.75 strokes. He was the only Tiger to play the par three, par four and par five holes under par for the tournament. His first round 65 was his career best score as a Tiger.
Jonathan Nielsen, a transfer from Carson-Newman in his first year with the Tigers, shot even par for the weekend with rounds of 70-71-69. His 69 on Sunday was second best among the Clemson golfers behind Pendley’s 65. For the weekend, Nielsen led the Clemson team with 18 birdies. He played the par five holes in 4.17 strokes, best on the team.
Drayton Stewart shot a 75 on Sunday to finish at 223 for the 54 holes, while Andrew Swanson had a 77 in the final round to finish at 215. He had a career best 65 in the second round.
Clemson will next be in action September 26-28 at the Folds of Honor Collegiate in Grand Haven, Michigan. The tournament will be held at American Dunes Golf Club and it will be Clemson’s first ever appearance in a tournament in Michigan.
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