JUNO BEACH, Fla. – The No.14 Florida State Seminoles earned a runner-up finish in the Match Play portion of the Jackson T. Stephens Cup. Luke Clanton and Cole Anderson both won their matches 1UP against North Carolina’s David Ford and Peter Fountain. The Tar Heels in the tournament championship with the 3-2 victory over the Seminoles.
Florida State began well, with each of the five Seminoles holding a lead in their match during the front-nine. As the day progressed, North Carolina earned the come-from-behind wins in three of the five contested matches.
Clanton, a freshman, had a successful day, beating the tournament stroke play individual champion, David Ford, 1UP. On the front-nine, Clanton lost two consecutive holes, but managed to win No. 8 and No. 11 to get the match back to all square.
Clanton showed his true determination on the back-nine, winning hole No. 14 and sinking a lengthy birdie putt on No. 18 to secure the win. The win ranks as Clanton’s first match-play victory as a Florida State Seminole.
Anderson, a redshirt junior, earned a 1UP win against the Tar Heels’ Peter Fountain. Anderson was in control the entire round, not once letting his opponent take the lead.
Junior Frederik Kjettrup nearly pulled off a match play victory, as he took his match into extra holes with UNC’s Dylan Menante. Menante birdied the 19th hole to win the match.
Kjettrup was 1UP on his opponent going into the 17th hole, but Menante managed a birdie on No. 17 to force the match into extra holes after a missed birdie putt attempt by Kjettrup on No. 18.
Sophomore Patrick McCann faced off against UNC Austin Greaser, falling to his opponent 2&1. The match continuously went back and forth, with McCann taking the lead on No. 11, but unfortunately gave up three holes which ended the match on No. 17.
Junior Brett Roberts fell 5&3 to UNC opponent Ryan Burnett. After taking an early lead on hole No. 3, Roberts’ opponent managed to steal the lead and carry the match until the 15th hole.
The second place finish marked the end of the fall season for the Seminoles. Florida State will return for their spring season on February 19 for the Watersound Invitational in Watersound, Florida.
Be sure to keep updated on the Noles @fsugolf on Twitter and Instagram.
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