Clemson in Eighth Place at Carpet Classic

Freshman Cody Proveaux and Stephen Behr both fired rounds of one-under-par 71 to lead Clemson to a four-over-par 292 team score and a tie for eighth place after the first round of the Carpet Classic in Dalton, GA on Friday.  The 15-team field includes seven of the top 25 teams in the nation, including the 24^th ranked Tigers.

Georgia has the team lead at 10-under-par 278, but teams second through 12^th are just nine shots apart.  Number-one ranked Alabama is in second place at four-under-par 284.  Clemson is tied for eighth at 292 with UT-Chattanooga and Middle Tennessee State.  Among the teams Clemson beat on Friday were second ranked Texas (293), South Carolina (296) and defending ACC Champion Georgia Tech (301).

Proveaux and Behr, along with Miller Capps, were all playing in their first career rounds for the Tigers.  This is the first time in school history that three freshmen have been in the lineup for the first tournament of the year.

Proveaux, who won the South Carolina Amateur championship a month ago, had six birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey on the par 72 course that is 7012 yards in length.  The native of Leesville, SC finished strong as he was two under par for his final seven holes.

Behr, who is a red-shirt freshman, scored his 71 with three birdies and two bogeys.  Both of the bogeys came within the first three holes, but he then shot three under par over his last 15 holes.  He made par on the last eight holes of his round.

Senior Crawford Reeves had an opening round 74.  He was four over par on holes 7-9 including a double bogey on the ninth hole.  But, he played the back nine at one under par to finish with a two-over 74.

Sophomore Billy Kennerly had a 76 in the opening round.  He made five bogeys and just one birdie.  Freshman Miller Capps, also playing his first career round, had a 79.

Clemson will be back in action on Saturday morning.  The 54 hole event will conclude on Sunday.