Clemson Completes First Round Of Las Vegas Intercollegiate

March 10, 2000

Las Vegas – Jonathan Byrd (Columbia, SC) shot a four-under-par 68 to lead Clemson to a 290 team score and a seventh place ranking after the first round of the Las Vegas Intercollegiate. The 14-team event is being held at the Desert Inn Country Club in Las Vegas, NV.

Byrd came back strong after a final round 78 in San Juan, PR two weeks ago. Byrd is tied for third after the first round in Las Vegas. Troy Matteson of Georgia Tech and Matt Brost of Texas both shot 67s to lead the field. Byrd is tied with Bryce Molder of Georgia Tech, Paul Casey of Arizona State and 1998 NCAA Champion James McLean of Minnesota.

The 14-team event features 10 of the top 20 teams in the nation and many of the top individuals.

Georgia Tech has the team lead at 274, while Texas is second at 278. Oklahoma State ranks third with a 281 score, while Minnesota is fourth at 283, Arizona State is fifth at 285 and Florida is sixth at even par 288. Clemson, defending national champion Georgia and Virginia are tied for seventh at 290. Houston stands 10th at 291, while host school UNLV and North Carolina are tied for 11th at 293. South Carolina is 13th at 295 and New Mexico stands 14th at 299.

Byrd was the only Tiger player under par. Junior John Engler had a 72 and is tied for 22nd, while freshman D.J. Trahan had a 73 and is 38th. Lucas Glover (Greenville, SC), ranked second in the nation in one poll, shot a 77 in the first round, his worst round of the year. Ben Duncan fired an 83 in his first round of the spring and it did not count toward the Clemson team score.

The 14 teams will be back on the course again on Saturday and Sunday.