Interview with Clemson senior Alice Hewson

Interview with Clemson golf coach Kelley Hester

Clemson golf coach Kelley Hester congratulates senior Alice Hewson for her outstandinbg career at Clemson, (GolfClub Photo)

The Clemson Women’s Invitational was the last regular season event for Alice Hewson.

With post season play remaining, the Tiger from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, UK, owns almost every important record in the history of the program.

“She has written our record book. She holds just about every record we have. She is a leader on the course and in the classroom. She has been a good friend to her teammates and she has set a high standard for our program,” said Hester.

While Hewson has meant a great deal to the Clemson program, Clemson has meant a lot to Hewson.

“Being at Clemson has been an amazing journey and I don’t think I am ever going to be ready to graduate,” said Hewson who will receive her diploma in the spring graduation ceremony.

This year Hewson earned her fourth tournament title with a victory at the ICON Invitational. The win made history within the Clemson program, but Hewson also was invited to be part of history outside her college schedule.

Clemson’s Alice Hewson earned a 10th place finish and made history at the first Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Last week Hewson got to live what can now be every golfers dream, boys and girls, to play Augusta National,. As one of the select field of amateurs the Clemson senior became the first women from England to play competitively on the famous “Master’s” course.

“It was every-bit as much fun as it looked and probably a lot more. Walking down those fairways and being able to compete on them was an opportunity I never thought I would have, I cherished every single second of it,” she said.

Hewson was hoping for a good showing in Augusta to help put a spotlight on her game and potentially attract some sponsors.

She finished in 10th place and had one of the highlights of the tournament when she rolled in a 20 foot birdie putt from the back of the green on the famous 15th hole.

“I will not know how much good it did me since these things take some time to work out, but it got a lot of attention around here. People came up to me and said they saw me on TV and it was nice to know so many people were interested,” she added.

With the possibility of three post season tournaments ahead of her,  Hewson would like a very young golf team to post a strong finish to the season,

“I think with the girls we have on the team this year, we have a good chance to make it back to the national, fingers crossed.  I know I am going to go out there and give it everything” said Hewson.

In the short five-year history of the Clemson women’s program Hewson has done just that, given everything to help make the Tigers successful.

“I didn’t recruit Alice, but I was fortunate enough to coach her for three years. When you are trying to build a program and a player like Alice comes along it really helps get you established. There is no substitute for Alice, she is a one of a kind and we have been fortunate to have her,” concluded Hester,.

Vanderbilt wins the Clemson Invitational

Vanderbilt won the Clemson Women’s Invitational title finishing 8 shots in front of Auburn for the title. (GolfClub photo)

The final round of the Clemson Women’s Invitational was cancelled because of violent weather in the area near The Reserve at Lake Keowee.

Golfers played about half the final round before lighting and heavy rain halted and then cancelled play.

Julie McCarthy from Auburn and  Micheala Williams from Tennessee shared medalist honors in the rain shortened tournament. (GolfClub photo)

With the round washed out, the leaders from the second round became the tournament champions.

Vanderbilt won the team title. The Commodores finished the 36 holes at 21-under par to win the tournament by 8-shots over Auburn.

The host team finished in third place for the second year in a row. The Tigers shot 8-under par

Medalist honors were shared by Julie McCarthy from Auburn and  Micheala Williams from Tennessee. The two golfers finished at 8-under par with a 136 total.

Clemson freshman Ivy Shepherd shot a second round 7-under par 65 to move up into a tie for fifth place in the final standings.

Ivy Shepherd was the top Tiger in the field.  The freshman had worked her way up to second place before the rain washed out the final round.(GolfClub photo)

Before the rain washed out the round Shepherd had moved up to second place.

The entire Clemson team was playing well as four of five Tiger golfers were under par and the fifth team member was at even par.

“We were playing some pretty good golf, but unfortunately Mother Nature was the winner today,” said Clemson coach Kelley Hester.