Duke Edged By Clemson in JNI Title Match

Tuesday, October 8

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Chandler Eaton in action at the Rod Myers Invitational

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke Edged By Clemson in JNI Title Match

10/8/2019 7:30:00 PM | Men's Golf

DUBLIN, Ohio – In a tight battle to the finish among top 15 programs, the Duke men's golf team was edged by Clemson, 3-2-1, in the championship match of the Jack Nicklaus Invitational at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio on Tuesday.

The No. 7 Blue Devils were boosted by points from senior Chandler Eaton and junior Adrien Pendaries, but the No. 15 Tigers squeezed out narrow victories in three matches to claim the unique, two-day match play event between Duke, Clemson, Florida State and host Ohio State.

Pendaries, who improved his collegiate match play record to 4-1-0 and was unbeaten over the two days at Muirfield, defeated Clemson's William Nottingham, 3&2, to give the Blue Devils a point. Rallying from an early two-hole deficit, Pendaries pulled even on the seventh hole, grabbed his first lead on the ninth, and pulled away with eagle-birdie-par-birdie over holes 11 through 14 to grab an insurmountable 4up lead.

Eaton -- also unbeaten at the JNI -- never trailed after the third hole in his match, but also needed a strong closing finish after Jacob Bridgeman pulled even on the ninth. The match remained tied until Eaton won the 13th, went 2up on the 15th and closed out Bridgeman with a par on the 17th to win 3&2.

The two decisive matches went the distance as junior Qi wen Wong, after watching Kyle Cottam take a 1up lead on the 17th, won the 18th hole with par to salvage a tie. Senior Steven DiLisio was edged by Zack Gordon, 1up. DiLisio led 1up through the 12th, but Gordon won the 13th, 14th and 17th to take a 1up lead and closed out the match by halving the 18th.

Junior Evan Katz dropped his match to Colby Patton, 2&1, while sophomore Quinn Riley was defeated by Turk Pettit, 3&1.

Tuesday's format was six singles matches to determine the team champion, while Florida State defeated Ohio State, 3-2-1, in the consolation match.

The Blue Devils return to stroke play competition next Friday at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate in Alpharetta, Ga.

Jack Nicklaus Invitational -- Championship Match -- Clemson wins 3-2-1
CLEM: Patton def. Katz, 2&1
DUKE: Eaton def. Bridgeman, 3&2
DUKE: Pendaries def. Nottingham, 3&2
CLEM: Gordon def. DiLisio, 1up
TIE: Wong vs. Cottam
CLEM: Pettit def. Riley, 3&1

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