Tigers Hold Lead after First Round of Ka’anapali Classic
Clemson, SC—All five golfers in the Clemson team lineup shot the 60s to lead Clemson to a 267 team score and the lead after the first round of the 20-team Ka’anapali Classic at Ka’anapali Country Club in Lahaina, Hawaii. It was the first of three rounds over three days on the par 71 course.
Clemson’s 17-under-par score was the fifth best round in the school’s history in terms of score vs. par, and the best since the Tigers had a school record 22-under-par on the same course on November 2, 2018. It marked the first time since the third round of the 2021-22 season at the Maui Jim Invitational in Arizona that all five Clemson golfers shot in the 60s in the same round.
Clemson is one shot ahead of 11th-ranked Oklahoma after 18 holes. East Tennessee State is third at 269, while North Florida is fourth at 273. Clemson is 11 shots ahead of 20th ranked Georgia.
Sophomore Andrew Swanson led the way with a career best 64 on Friday. The native of Bluffton, SC shot 32 on each side and was the only Clemson golfer to score under par on the par threes (-2), the par fours (-3) and the par fives (-2). He had seven birdies to tie for the team best in a round this year. He made all seven birdies in a 10-hole stretch. Swanson is tied for first in the 123 player field with Drew Goodman of Oklahoma after 18 holes.
Jonathan Nielsen and Carter Pendley both had rounds of four-under-par 67 to support Swanson’s big day. Nielsen had an eagle on the sixth hole to highlight his round, while Pendley had an eagle on the par five ninth hole. Both Tigers are tied for 12th place after the first round.
Kian Rose and Zack Gordon had rounds of two-under-par 69 on Friday. Gordan’s round included an eagle on the first hole, while Rose had a 33 on the back side in scoring his team best sixth round of the year in the 60s.
Justin Burrough and Alberto Dominquez are playing the tournament as individuals and had rounds of 72 and 73, respectively.
Clemson dominating the par four scoring, as the Tigers five players played the par four holes in 10-under-par, eight shots better than any other team. Clemson had 20 birdies and three eagles in shooting the 267, six shots better than any other Tigers team score so far this year.
