Clemson golfers on schedule for trip back to NCAA Championships
Clemson coach Larry Penley planned his 2015-16 men’s golf schedule with the NCAA Championship in mind, and the Tigers look poised to head toward that tournament brimming with confidence.
The Tigers launched their spring season last week just like they played most of the fall – with a strong performance that boosted them to eighth in the national polls. A second-place finish in the Puerto Rico Classic, a tournament that included six teams ranked in the top 20, left Penley pleased, “and looking to get better.”
“We can be really good,” the Hall of Fame coach said. “We have experience (three seniors and two juniors played in Puerto Rico), we might be deeper in quality than ever (in his 33 seasons at Clemson ) and we have solid production one through five.”
Senior Stephen Behr (71.07 scoring average) and junior Austin Langdale (71.87) have been the Tigers’ most consistent players, with senior Miller Capps (72.47) not far behind. Junior Carson Young (73.07) and senior Cody Proveaux (74.67) have shown flashes of excellence along with some forgettable rounds.
“Stephen and Austin have never played better,” Penley said. “Stephen played the last 40 holes in Puerto Rico without a bogey and tied for fourth, and Austin had a 68 in the last round despite a triple-bogey. He played his back nine in (6-under-par) 30.
“Carson needs some consistency. He had two good rounds in Puerto Rico (71-69 before a final 76). Cody needs to develop some trust in his swing changes. Once he gets it, we all know how well he can play.”
Young, who struggled with injuries his sophomore year, won both the Carolinas Amateur and South Carolina Amateur before college. Proveaux earned the 2011 AJGA Junior Golfer of the Year award. In addition to leading the Tigers in the fall, Behr tied for ninth in the Jones Cup Invitational in February.
“One thing I like is that we played well in three of our four fall tournaments, and the guys came back really ready to play in Puerto Rico,” Penley said. “We can use some different players, too. I feel that good about our depth one through seven or eight. We took (freshman) Bryson Nimmer and (sophomore) Josh Fickes to Puerto Rico to play as individuals and give them some experience, and they played well.”
Penley is no stranger to the NCAA Championship. His 2003 Tigers won the national title, and all of his 32 teams have qualified for regional competition. Twenty-six advanced to the national tournament.
With this year’s nationals set for Eugene, Ore., he included two trips to the West Coast on the schedule. The Tigers played at Pumpkin Ridge (North Plains, Ore.) in the fall, and their next tournament (March 6-8) will be at Brandon Dunes (Ore.).
“We mix up our schedule,” he said. “With the NCAAs in Oregon, we set up those regular-season trips this year to let them experience the travel and time changes. Next year, we will be back in Michael Carlisle’s tournament at Palmetto (Aiken) in the spring.”
Chip shots
The Women’s South Carolina Golf Association’s Junior Golf Foundation has established a partnership to expand the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour into South Carolina with six one-day sessions for girls only. The sessions will be conducted on Saturdays throughout the summer at sites to be named. The Tour is seeking a tournament director for the state, and interested parties should contact Mike Parker at mparker@pkbgt.org or 336-347-8537. … Lawrence Hicks (Greensboro, N.C.) has been elected president of the Carolinas Golf Association. Gene Spencer (Blythewood) is vice-president. … Matt NeSmith finished second individually and USC placed third in the team competition in the All-American Intercollegiate in Humble, Tex.