Clemson Finishes Fourth at Augusta State Invitational

April 4, 2010

Clemson, SC-Corbin Mills finished with a nine-under-par score of 207 for the three rounds, and Jacob Burger fired a final round 69 to lead Clemson to a fourth-place team finish at the 18-team Administaff Augusta State Invitational at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, GA. It was Clemson’s final regular season tournament before play begins at the ACC Tournament on April 23 at the Old North State Course in Uwharrie Point, NC.

Clemson record the fourth place finish even though it was without its best player, Ben Martin, who is preparing to play in next week’s Masters.

Clemson finished with a 19-under par score of 845 on the par 72 course that is 7,161 yards in length. Host school Augusta State won the tournament with a 47-under par score of 821. Clemson shot under par in all three rounds as a team and the 19-under par figure was the second best all year for Larry Penley’s team. Clemson shot a 21-under score (843) at the Puerto Rico Classic in February.

Mills had rounds of 68-67-72 for a nine under par score of 207. He tied the Clemson freshman record for low total score and low score vs. par in a 54-hole tournament. He was the fifth freshman in school history to achieve that total score record joining Michael Hoey (1998 Jerry Pate), D.J. Trahan (2000 Las Vegas), David May (2005 Carpet Classic) and Kyle Stanley (2006 Aloha Classic). He joined Hoey, Trahan and May with the freshman record for score vs. par.

Mills became the first Clemson golfer regardless of class to record two rounds of four under par or better on the same day when he had a four under par 68 and a five under par 67 for his 36 holes on Saturday. His 72 on Easter Sunday included four birdies and four bogeys. The native of Anderson, SC finished sixth at the event overall with his 207 score, his third top six finish this year, best among Clemson golfers.

Burger had a 69 on Sunday, the best round among the five Clemson golfers. He had five birdies ad two bogeys on the day and finished with a 210 total for the three rounds, the best of his Clemson career by three shots. It as his fourth straight top 20 finish as he finished 14th in the field of 93 golfers.

Luke Hopkins and Alex Boyd both shot even par rounds of 72 on Sunday and were the other two counters towards Clemson’s team score. Hopkins had a bogey on the seventh hole followed by a birdie on eight. His other 16 holes were all completed in par. The senior finished the tournament with a one under par score of 215.

Boyd, who had a 71 in the first round and a 76 in the second round, shot an even par 72 on Sunday. However, he was disappointed with his finish. After playing the first 13 holes in four under par, he played the last five in four over par. His 219 total for the tournament tied his career best for a 54-hole event.

Crawford Reeves played the first two rounds under par with scores of 70-71, but he shot a 78 on Sunday and did not count towards Clemson’s team score. He was six over par for the first 10, then played the last eight holes at even par.