TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – For the second year in a row, Alabama closed out a win at the SEC Match Play with a chip-in. How did Senior Canon Claycomb celebrate? With a Tiger-esque fist pump of course.

The Crimson Tide defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 3-2 in their final match on Tuesday, with Claycomb’s chip sealing a 3&2 victory and winning the team the overall match.

 

“That was a cool way to finish, and to do that in front of our fans that were here was really nice,” said Head Coach Jay Seawell.

 

“It was a great chip from Canon, very difficult, but it’s something that he works on every day in practice. To see him pull it off under pressure was good for him and for our team.”

True freshman Nick Dunlap showed off his match play prowess, winning his match over Georgia’s Caleb Manuel 5&3. Dunlap, who won the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur, was tied with Manuel headed into the back nine before winning five of the next six holes.

 

JP Cave overcame an early deficit to come roaring back late and win his match over Buck Brumlow three up.

 

Thomas Ponder lost a close match one down to Ben Van Wyk, while Tyler Lipscomb fell 5&4 to Nick Cassidy.

 

Blazing Final Round

 

In the final round of stroke play on Monday, Alabama delivered its best round of the season with an 11-under 269.

 

The round marks the seventh-best score in the entire history of men’s golf at Alabama. Before making the turn, the Tide were already 10-under par.

 

12 birdies in just nine holes.

 

The performance vaulted Alabama up the leaderboard four spots and into fifth place.

 

Dunlap finished T7 (-9) for the week in his second top-10 placement in just three starts for the Tide.

 

He, along with Ponder (T17, -5), both came in with rounds of four-under 66. Just behind them was Cave (T31, -2), who shot 67 in the final round.

 

Claycomb (T21, -4) rounded out the counting scores with an even-par 70.

 

Four of the five Alabama starters finished under-par on for the week.

 

Final Fall Test

 

Alabama will take its talents to the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate in Alpharetta, Georgia from Oct. 21-23. The event will round out the Fall Season for the Crimson Tide.

 

Follow Nicholas Pursley on Twitter @nicholaspursley for 24/7 coverage of Alabama Men’s Golf.