Clemson Has First Round Lead of United States Collegiate

April 5, 2009

Clemson, SC–Senior David May fired a five under par 67 on Sunday to lead Clemson to a five under par team score of 283 and a one shot team lead after the first round of the United States Collegiate at the Golf Club of Georgia. The 15-team tournament features the top 11 teams in the nation in the most recent Golf World Coaches poll. The three day event is being played at the par 72 Lakeside Course that is 7017 yards in length.

Clemson has a one shot lead in the national field over UCLA. The Bruins are the defending NCAA Champion, but are not ranked in the top 25 in the nation entering this event, one of just two teams not in the top 25 teams. Third ranked Southern California is third at 285, followed by 9th ranked Washington at 287. Number-two ranked Oklahoma State is tied with fifth ranked Stanford for fifth at 289. South Carolina, Alabama and host school Georgia Tech are tied for seventh at 291. Number-one ranked Georgia is in 10th place.

Clemson played the last four holes in three under par to overtake USC and UCLA, who had a four shot lead on the Tigers with five holes to play.

May had his low round for Clemson since April 22, 2006 when he had a 65 at the ACC Tournament at the Old North State Club. It tied for his third lowest round as a Clemson golfer, a career that includes 107 competitive rounds. The senior from Auburn, NY was one over par through eight holes, but then made birdies on six of his next seven holes, including four consecutive birdies on holes 12-15. Ironically, the only hole he did not birdie was a par five, the 11th hole. May shot a 31 on the back, five under par for the last nine holes. He is tied for second place in the individual race behind Erik Flores of UCLA, who had a 65.

Clemson and Washington were the only two schools with two players in the 60s in the first round. Kyle Stanley, back in the starting lineup after missing the last tournament while playing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour, had a 69 on Sunday, his ninth under par round of the year. Stanley had four birdies and just one bogey on Sunday and he stands in a tie for fourth place after the first round.

May and Stanley were the only Tigers who were better than par on Sunday, but the other three Tigers were in the game all day. Ben Martin started the day with an eagle on the first hole, then had five bogeys before finishing with a birdie on the 18th hole to first a one over par 73. He is in 23rd place individually.

Luke Hopkins, playing in just his second tournament of the year, had a round of 74 to contributed towards Clemson’s team score. Hopkins had a double bogey on the 14th hole, but played the last four holes at event par. Senior Phillip Mollica had a 75 on Sunday, but did birdie the ninth and 18th holes.