Clemson women’s golf is preparing for the ACC Championship that will take place on April 14 – 17. Here’s why you should tune in for a potential Clemson victory:
1. Freshman, Melena Barrientos: Barrientos has been lights out this season. Bursting onto the scene in just her second outing this season, she finished six under par, placing third in the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational. She’s had the second-lowest stroke average on the team outside of senior Ivy Shepherd at 73.76. Barrientos possesses three of the top-four individual best rounds on Clemson.
2. They’re on fire: Clemson has finished top-four in three of the team’s past six tournaments, including a massive win at the Clover Cup on March 13. The Tigers won in the final round in a team effort, hurdling the 11th-ranked Texas A&M squad. The Clover Cup was the third team victory in program history for the Tigers, a win they could use as a steppingstone into the postseason.
3. They’re the underrated underdogs: This whole year, the ACC has been riddled with underdogs winning. Whether it was Virginia Tech beating Duke for the ACC Men’s basketball title, Pitt overcoming considerable odds to win the title for football or North Carolina beating Duke twice, this year has been hectic. Despite Clemson’s success, they’ve been underrated all year. They do face sharp competition in a fourth-ranked Wake team and an eighth-ranked Virginia team.
1. Freshman, Melena Barrientos: Barrientos has been lights out this season. Bursting onto the scene in just her second outing this season, she finished six under par, placing third in the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational. She’s had the second-lowest stroke average on the team outside of senior Ivy Shepherd at 73.76. Barrientos possesses three of the top-four individual best rounds on Clemson.
2. They’re on fire: Clemson has finished top-four in three of the team’s past six tournaments, including a massive win at the Clover Cup on March 13. The Tigers won in the final round in a team effort, hurdling the 11th-ranked Texas A&M squad. The Clover Cup was the third team victory in program history for the Tigers, a win they could use as a steppingstone into the postseason.
3. They’re the underrated underdogs: This whole year, the ACC has been riddled with underdogs winning. Whether it was Virginia Tech beating Duke for the ACC Men’s basketball title, Pitt overcoming considerable odds to win the title for football or North Carolina beating Duke twice, this year has been hectic. Despite Clemson’s success, they’ve been underrated all year. They do face sharp competition in a fourth-ranked Wake team and an eighth-ranked Virginia team.
4. Team golfing: The Tigers haven’t had the individual success they hoped for going into the 2021-22 season, but credit is due for head coach Kelley Hester. Hester has worked with both the strengths and weaknesses of the team to craft a group that can achieve success. Despite having only one top-ten finisher in the Clover Cup (Katherine Schuster T-6), the Tigers managed to pull out a team win.
5. Home grass advantage: The ACC Championship will be played at The Reserve Golf Club at Pawleys Island, South Carolina. The obvious advantage is the short trip in-state, but the more considerable advantage is the course itself. In every successful outing, the Tigers have played on fast-moving Bermuda grass greens, like those of the Reserve Golf Club. The stunning course also boasts impressive yardage suited for the Tiger’s style of play.
5. Home grass advantage: The ACC Championship will be played at The Reserve Golf Club at Pawleys Island, South Carolina. The obvious advantage is the short trip in-state, but the more considerable advantage is the course itself. In every successful outing, the Tigers have played on fast-moving Bermuda grass greens, like those of the Reserve Golf Club. The stunning course also boasts impressive yardage suited for the Tiger’s style of play.
