Tigers Improve to Fourth after Two Rounds of Isleworth-UCF Collegiate

Oct. 23, 2006

Clemson, SC – Freshmen Ben Martin and Sam Saunders both had rounds at par or better to lead Clemson to a 291 team score and a six-place improvement in the standing in the second round of the Isleworth-UCF Collegiate Invitational at Windemere, FL. Clemson stands in fourth place at 12 over par 588 after two rounds, nine shots off the lead held by Texas and just two shots out of third place.

The tournament on the par 72 Isleworth Country Club course that is 7,544 yards in length will conclude on Tuesday with 18 holes. Texas holds the lead after two rounds at three over par 579, while defending NCAA champion Oklahoma State is second at 580. Florida is third at 586, while Clemson is fourth at 588, two shots ahead of fifth place Kentucky. Duke, Tennessee and Georgia are tied for sixth at 591 in the 18-team field that includes seven of the top 13 teams in the nation.

Martin was Clemson’s top golfer on Monday with a two-under-par 70. He played the back nine, his first nine holes of the day, one over par, then made three consecutive birdies on the first three holes of the front side to get to three under par. Martin made a 39 place jump in the standings with his two under par score and is in 12th place entering the final round with a 146 total.

Saunders had a solid even par 72 on Monday and is tied with Martin and others for 12th place at 146. The individual leader is Toby Ragland of Florida with a 140 score. Saunders had five birdies on the day and was three under par with two holes to play, but double bogeyed the eighth hole and bogeyed the ninth.

Tanner Ervin, Phillip Mollica and Kyle Stanley are all tied for 36th place at 149 after two rounds. Ervin had a 74 on Monday to go with his opening 75. Mollica played his first nine two under par, but a double bogey coming in hurt his score and he shot 41 on the front side overall. Stanley had a 75 on Monday with four bogeys and a birdie.