Mills Cards Opening Round 71 at US Public Links

June 27, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson rising junior Corbin Mills shot a one over par 71 in the first round of the United States Public Links Championships at the Bardon Trails Course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon on Monday. It was the first round of two rounds of qualifying for the tournament.

Mills stands in fifth place after the first round. The top 64 plays after Tuesday’s second round will move into a match play tournament. The champion, who will be crowned on Saturday, has traditionally received an invitation to the Masters. Mills is just two shots off the lead of one under par 69 by Devon Purser of Clearfield, Utah.

Two Clemson golfers have won the tournament previously, Kevin Johnson in 1987 and D.J. Trahan in 2000. The year Johnson won, the champion was not invited to the Masters. Trahan was invited to the 2001 Masters as the result of his victory.

Mills’ round included three birdies and four bogeys on the 6832 yard course. Mills made a bogey on the first hole and a bogey on the short (126 yard) par three fifth. But the native of Anderson, SC came back with birdies on the par four seventh and the par four 8th and made the turn at even par 35. He made a bogey on the par four 10th hole, then made a birdie on the par five 530-yard 16th hole. He then bogeyed the par three 17th hole before making a par on 18 for a 71.