Clemson In First Place at The Brickyard

Oct. 7, 2007

Macon, GA-Clemson senior Tanner Ervin fired a five-under par 67 to lead Clemson to a season best 11-under-par 277 team score and a first-place standing after the first round of the Brickyard Collegiate golf tournament. The three-day event is being played at the par 72, Brickyard Golf and Country Club in Macon, SC.

Clemson leads the event after one round with a 277 team score. It was Clemson’s best round of the year by 13 shots and the best round by the team since it had a 268 team score in the second round of the 2006 ACC Tournament. Clemson has a one-shot lead over Georgia in the 13-team event. Georgia Tech is in third place at five-under par.

Ervin’s five-under par 67 was his best score since he had a career best 66 in the opening round of the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate on October 10, 2005. It was his second best score of his four-year career and just his sixth career round in the 60s. His day started poorly with a bogey on the first hole, but he made six birdies over the last 16 holes. He made a birdie on three of the four par five holes on the 7155-yard layout. Ervin is in second place in the individual race, trailing Georgia’s Harris English by two shots.

Joining Ervin with a round in the 60s was sophomore Luke Hopkins, who had a three-under par 69. Hopkins, who is playing the number-one position for the first time for the Tigers, also started slowly with two bogeys in his first five holes. He then had five birdies and no bogeys over the last 13 holes. His opening round 69 is tied or fourth and it was his career low score in 13 career rounds.

Kyle Stanley had a solid round of 70 on the opening day. He was three under par through six holes and shot a 33 on the front nine. He finished with six birdies and four bogeys and is tied for ninth place.

Classmate Sam Saunders shot a one-under par 71 in the opening round, the fourth Tiger to shoot under par on Sunday. Saunders had six birdies, three bogeys an a double bogey in firing his low round of the season. He stands in 16th place after one round. Ben Martin was Clemson’s fifth golfer. The sophomore from Greenwood was one-under par through 10 holes, but played the final eight holes at six over.

Senior Zack Siefert is playing the tournament as an individual and had an opening round 70, two under par and is tied for ninth place with Stanley.

The tournament continues on Monday.