Clemson in First Place at ACC Golf Championship

April 22, 2006

New London, NC- David May and Stephen Poole were a combined 13-under-par to lead a surging Clemson golf team in the second round of the ACC Golf Tournament at the Old North State Club in New London, NC. Clemson was at 20-under par and in first place by one shot when play was halted for the day at 5:10 PM.

Play will continue at 10:00 AM on Sunday morning. Teams that have to finish the second round and teams ready to play the third round will tee off simultaneously Sunday morning.

Clemson will enter the final day of play with a one shot lead over Georgia Tech. Clemson is at 20 under, while the Yellow Jackets are at 19 under. North Carolina completes the three horse race at 17 under. Florida State and Maryland are tied for fourth at five under par.

Clemson was at a record pace when play was halted on Saturday. The Tigers started the day at three under par for the tournament, nine shots off the pace and in fifth place. But, David May.

Clemson was a combined 17 under par for the holes it has played in the second round, one pace to break the Clemson record of 13 under par for an ACC Tournament round. The pace is just one stroke off the all-time Clemson for a team round in any tournament. In 2003 a Clemson team led by D.J. Trahan was 18 under par for a day’s work at the Augusta State Invitational (April 3, 2003).

May started the day in 21st place after an opening round even par 72. He shot a 31 on the front side, then made two more birdies on the back to get to seven under for the tournament and the round through 12 holes. He had a one shot lead over five other golfers when play was halted. May is capable of such a round as the freshman fired a 65 at the Carpet Classic last fall, the low round by a Tiger this year.

Poole, who had a disappointing 77 in the first round, a score that did not count towards Clemson’s team score, was at six under par through 14 holes on Saturday. He had a run of birdie, birdie, eagle on holes 10-11-12 to rocket up the charts. He is in 17th place, a 31-place improvement with four holes left in his second round.

Tanner Ervin was three under par for his 12 holes in the second round and was in 13th place individually. Brian Duncan was his consistent self at one under for the round and five under for the tournament and stands in seventh place entering the final day. Freshman Vince Hatfield was at even par for the day and one over for the tournament.

Obviously, all five Clemson players were at even par or better when play was halted.

Sunday’s final day of play can be followed via live scoring on www.golfstat.com. Just click on the link to the ACC Tournament.

Clemson will be attempting to win its 10th ACC Tournament on Sunday, its ninth under Larry Penley and its fifth at the Old North State Club.