Behr Leads Clemson at Carpet Classic

Clemson, S.C.—Stephen Behr fired a two-under-par 70 in the opening round of the season to lead Clemson to a 296 team score and a sixth-place standing out of 14 teams at the Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic in Dalton, Ga. on Friday.    The second round will be played Saturday on the par 72 course, with the final round on Sunday.

Georgia Tech has the team lead at two-under-par 286, while Alabama and South Carolina are tied for second at 289.  LSU is fourth at three over par 291, while Auburn is fifth at 293.  Clemson is tied with Mississippi for sixth at 296.  The 14 team-field includes seven of the top 25 teams in the nation.

Behr, Clemson’s career stroke average leader among active Tigers with a 72.64 figure coming into his final year, had four birdies and two bogeys on the 7,012-yard course.  He played the par four holes in one-under par, tied for second best in the field of 81 golfers. 

The graduate student  from Florence, S.C.  had two birdies and seven pars on the back nine, his first nine of the day, to shoot 34.  He made two bogeys on his second nine, as he birdied two of his last three holes. He stands in fifth place after the first round, one of just 11 players to shoot under par in the first round.

Clemson got off to a great start as a team and stood at six under par with a four-shot lead through the first seven holes.  Clemson played the back nine, its first nine of the day, in one under par.  Then, like most of the teams, the Tigers found the front side to be much tougher.  Clemson shot nine over par on the front side to finish eight over for the team round.

Austin Langdale, Clemson’s top golfer in the last three tournaments last year, was the second best Clemson golfer on Friday with a 73.  He started red hot with three birdies through the first seven holes.   A double bogey on the 17^th hole and a bogey on the final hole ruined his round.  Langdale is tied for 17^th.

Carson Young, a childhood friend of Langdale’s in Pendleton, S.C, also had a good start and was one-under-par through his eighth hole.  But he also struggled on the front side and finished at 76 and is in 41^st place.

Miller Capps, Clemson’s number-one player in the lineup, was two-under through seven holes, but he also made a double bogey on the par four 17^th hole.  He had an uncharacteristic three double bogeys in the round and shot 77.

Coleman Self, a true freshman playing in his first college round, made four birdies and was one-under-par through six holes.  But he made three straight bogeys to close his first nine, then made double bogey on the first hole, his 10^th hole of the day.

Redshirt freshman Peter Mathison, playing as an individual, made an eagle on the 15^th hole, his sixth hole of the day and of his career.  But, he finished with a triple bogey on his final hole (9^th) and shot 77. Tied with Capps for 49^th.