Clemson's Bryson Nimmer at the NCAA Championship
(Golfweek Photo)
STILLWATER, OK (May 27, 2018) - Bryson Nimmer has never won a college golf tournment however on Monday he has a chance to change all that. The Clemson junior currently sits at 9-under and he will carry a two-stroke lead into the final round of the NCAA Championship.
Nimmer came flying out of the gates on Friday with an 8-under 64 only to give three-strokes back on Saturday with a 3-over 75. Looking to regain his form in Sunday's third round, Nimmer started slowly with a 2nd hole bogey before finding his grove midway through the round.
On the 6th hole at Karsten Creek, with his father Tony a two-time NCAA Championship performer for Clemson watching closely, Nimmer rolled in his first birdie of the day, it was the first of his six during a nine hole stretch between Nos. 6-14. The birdie on the par-4 14th was his final of the day and it briefly moved Nimmer to 10-under. Nimmer, who has finished in the top-10 seven-times this year, did bogey the 17th hole but he was still able to finish 9-under as he signed for a 4-under 68.
“I think Tony is really enjoying watching Bryson have the success that he’s had,” Clemson head coach Larry Penley and former teammate of Tony told Golfweek.
Auburn freshman Brandon Mancheno, with six top-10 showings this season, will begin play on Monday 7-under and in second place following a 1-under 71 that included three birdies and two bogeys.
Sharing third place are a trio of players including Texas' Doug Ghim, Ivan Ramirez of Texas Tech and Augusta's Broc Everett all of whom are 6-under and three back.
Note: The top-nine individuals not on an advancing team also move onto the final round
TEAM STANDINGS
The round of the day was turned in by the Duke Blue Devils who jumped to the top of the standings with a 12-under-round that moved them to 10-under for the tournament. In the third round Duke received a quartet of under-par rounds led by Evan Katz 's 4-under 68. Beginning on the back nine Katz played a flawless round of golf with his four birdies falling on Nos. 15, 17, 18 and 4.
With the completion of three rounds now in the books the top-15 teams remain alive and have a chance with a top-eight finish on Monday to advance to match play. Currently the highest ranked team still alive to be outside the top-eight is Alabama. The Crimson Tide, ranked No. 8 in the country, are 10-over and two shots out of the eighth spot.
On the flip side the only unranked team in position to advance to the quarterfinals is Kent State. The Golden Flash spent much of the year ranked only to fall out of the top-25 in the last Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll. Kent State will begin the final round round 8-over in eighth place.
Of the teams to miss the 54-hole the highest ranked team is 10th ranked Florida. The Gators 22-over showing left them four-strokes outside the cut line.
Editors Note: Golfweek provided information for this story
ABOUT THE
NCAA Division I Championship
The NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship is the pinnacle of collegiate golf in the United States, held annually in late May or early June. The event brings together the nation's top 30 teams and six individual qualifiers, all of whom have advanced through a grueling regional qualifying process. Conference champions earn automatic regional berths, while a selection committee fills the remaining spots.
The championship begins with 72 holes of stroke play to determine the individual national champion. Following this, the top 8 teams advance to a match play bracket to compete for the team title — a format introduced in 2009 that added a dramatic head-to-head element to the final days of competition.
Some of the most decorated names in professional golf have competed in this event, including Jack Nicklaus, Hale Irwin, Tiger Woods, and Phil Mickelson. Winning the individual title now includes an added bonus: the champion receives an invitation to the following year’s Masters Tournament, provided they maintain amateur status.
The tournament dates back to 1897, originally run by the National Intercollegiate Golf Association. The NCAA began officially sponsoring the event in 1939. Over time, the championship has become not just a collegiate milestone, but also a launching pad for future PGA Tour stars.
After 72 holes of stroke play, the individual champion is crowned, and the low 8 teams advance to match play to determine the team champion.
View Complete Tournament Information