CLEMSON, S.C. — Andrew Swanson shot a final round 69 that included eight birdies to lead Clemson to a ninth-place finish out of 14 teams at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate in Alpharetta, Ga. on Sunday. The national tournament included eight of the top 25 teams in the latest Spikemark national rankings.
Duke finished first with a 54-hole team score of 28-under-par, while UCLA was second at 25-under. Clemson defeated top 25 teams from Alabama (11th), Tennessee (17th) and Stanford (24th) at the 18th annual event played on the par 72 Lakeside Course.
Swanson had a streak of four straight birdies on the front nine, holes 4-7, and his eight birdies on Sunday were the most in a single round by a Clemson golfer this year. The native of Bluffton, SC finished with 18 birdies for the weekend, also the most by a Clemson golfer in a 54-hole stroke play tournament this year. He had 14 birdies over the last 36 holes, as he had six birdies and just one bogey on Saturday when he shot a 67.
Swanson finished 11th in the medalist race with a four-under-par 212 score, the best finished by a Clemson golfer in this early season. It was a strong comeback for Swanson, who was Clemson’s non-counter in the first round with a 76.
Freshman Rich Wills was Clemson’s second best golfer on Sunday and second best for the tournament. The native of Cramerton, NC had an even-par 72 on Sunday and had a 215 score for the 54 holes, including an opening round 69. Wills started Sunday’s round with a double bogey on the par five, first hole, then went bogey free the last 17 holes, the longest bogey free stretch by a Clemson golfer this year. He played the last 17 holes at two-under-par and finished 20th in the medalist race.
Classmate Colin Salema had a final round 74 and finished tied for 42nd for the weekend with a 220 score. He had three birdies in his round on Sunday and finished with 10 birdies over the 54 hole tournament.
Kian Rose played his first two rounds at even par, but shot a 78 on Sunday to finish with a 222 total for the 54 holes, 56th place. He also had 10 birdies for the tournament, his third straight tournament with at least 10 birdies.
Lucas Augustsson had a final round 79 and finished at 229 for the tournament, 72nd place.
Clemson finishes its fall schedule October 26-27 at the Steelwood Collegiate in Laxley, Alabama.
..