Clemson Fourth after First Round of ACC Tournament

April 23, 2010

Clemson, SC – Sophomore Jacob Burger fired a career best four under par 68 on Friday to lead Clemson to a 284 team score and a fourth-place standing after the first round of the ACC golf Tournament at The Old North State Club in New London, NC.

Clemson has won the ACC Golf tournament nine times, including four times at The Old North State Club. But the Tigers are looking for their first title since 2004. Clemson was runner up to Georgia Tech last year.

Georgia Tech has the team lead at nine-under-par 279 after 18 holes, while Duke and Wake Forest are tied for second at eight-under-par 280. Clemson is fourth at 284, followed by Virginia at 286. Adam Long of Duke has the individual lead with a 65, while defending champion Matt Hill of NC State had a six under par 66.

Burger is tied for fourth in the individual race after 18 holes. The native of Orangeburg, SC had birdies at the fifth, sixth, 11th, 12th and 18 holes. His previous best was a 69 on many occasions, including the final round at the Augusta State Invitational on April 4, his last round prior to the ACC Tournament. So he has had consecutive rounds in the 60s for the first time in his career.

Freshman Crawford Reeves was also under par on Friday with a 71. He started out strong with four birdies within his first six holes, including consecutive birdies on the fourth, fifth and sixth holes. He had three bogeys between the seventh and 10th holes, then made par on each of the last eight holes.

It was just the second under par opening round for Reeves this year. He has now shot under par in four of his last six rounds.

Senior Ben Martin also finished with a one under par 71 on Friday. He made a par on each of the first nine holes, then made bogey on the par four 10th and 12th holes. But, he finished strong, recording birdies on the 15th, 16th and 18th holes to finish under par. It was the former US Amateur finalists 10th under par round of the year, best on the team.

Freshman Corbin Mills shot a two over par 74 on Friday. Clemson’s second ranked player in terms of stroke average entering the event was three over par for the first nine holes, then came back to even with consecutive birdies on the 11th, 12th and 13th holes. He then made bogeys on 14 and 17 coming in to finish with his 74.

Senior Luke Hopkins struggled on Friday and his round of 76 did not count towards the Clemson team score. He played the first eight holes at even par, but a double bogey on the 15th hole hurt his round.

The second round will start Saturday morning at the Old North State Club. Scoring can be followed at golfstat.com.