Clemson Golf Stands First After Two Rounds of U.S. Collegiate Championship

April 10, 2006

Alpharetta, GA – The Clemson golf team stands in first place after two rounds at the U.S. Collegiate Championship. The 13-team field played 36 holes Monday on the Lakeside Course at the Golf Club of Georgia. The Tigers are two-under par through two rounds, one shot ahead of both Florida and Wake Forest. Stephen Poole is tied for second in the individual race after posting a pair of 70s on Monday. All five of Clemson’s players rank in the top 20 after two rounds of play.

The Tigers were third after a 291 team score in the first round, three-over par. The second round got off to a great start as four of the five players for Clemson birdied the opening hole. Four players went on to shoot even par or better in the second round, thus giving Clemson its lead heading into the final round. The Tigers shot 283 as a team in the second round, its best overall score since the first round of the 2005-06 season (280 at Jerry Pate Intercollegiate on October 10).

Leading the way for Clemson was senior Poole, who posted a two-under par 70 in the first round. The Spartanburg, SC native was actually four-under heading into his final hole, before a double bogey on the par five ninth hole dropped him to two-under. In the second round, Poole matched his 70 from the first round. He was a model of consistency, posting three birdies and just one bogey. It marked the first time this season he has shot 70 or better in consecutive rounds.

Tanner Ervin put together a solid opening round 74. He shot par on 15 holes and finished with a two-over score. He improved by four strokes and shot a 70 in the second round, his best single round since the second at Bulls Bay earlier this spring. The Mt. Pleasant, SC native fought off a double bogey on the eighth hole to finish that round at two-under par, thanks mostly in part to five birdies. Ervin is tied for 11th after two rounds at an even par total.

Brian Duncan, a second senior in the lineup this week, struggled with five bogeys in the first round. He shot 75, including a 38 on the front nine. He rebounded to shoot a 71 in the second round, despite bogeying two of his last five holes. He is tied for 18th heading into the final round.

David May, a freshman from New York, had a solid first round and was even par with a 72. He tallied four birdies and four bogeys in the opening round. His three-over 75 in the second round did not count toward Clemson’s team score.

Vince Hatfield, another freshman competing for Larry Penley’s team this week, had an up-and-down two rounds. In the opening round, he tallied five birdies and eight bogeys on his way to a 75. He improved by three strokes and shot even par in the second round. He posted six birdies and six bogeys to continue his hot-and-cold play throughout the afternoon.

The tournament will conclude with 18 holes on Tuesday.

Clemson at U.S. Collegiate Championship (Par 72, 7020 yards) Stephen Poole 70 70 140 T2nd Tanner Ervin 74 70 144 T11th Brian Duncan 75 71 146 T18th Vince Hatfield 75 72 147 T20th David May 72 75 147 T20th