Clemson in Fourth Place After Day One of Carpet Classic

Sept. 27, 2002

Clemson, SC – Matt Hendrix fired a three-under-par 69 to lead Clemson to a fourth-place ranking after the first round of the Carpet Classic in Dalton, GA. The first round was delayed three hours due to inclement weather. The forecast is for sunny skies on Saturday and Sunday for the 54-hole, three-day event held at The Farm, a par 72 course.

Hendrix, who had a career best sixth-place finish at the Topy Cup in Japan three weeks ago, had four birdies and a bogey in leading the Tigers on Friday. He had nine hole scores of 35 and 34 in recording his fourth career round in the 60s. Hendrix is in fifth place after the first day. The individual leader is Bill Haas of Wake Forest, who shot a 66.

Junior All-American Gregg Jones was the only other Tiger under par as the native of Florence shot a 71 in the first round. Jones had a consistent round with three birdies and two bogeys.

Ben Duncan was Clemson’s third best golfer on Friday. The senior from Greenville was three over par for the first eight holes, then birdied three of the next eight before finishing with a bogey on the 18th hole.

D.J. Trahan, the defending champion in this event, had a two-over-par 74 in the opening round. Trahan had five bogeys and three birdies on Friday. Jack Ferguson, Clemson’s top golfer in Japan with a 204 score, shot a 76 on Friday as he struggled with six bogeys. He was 12-under-par for the three rounds in Japan.

Clemson is nine shots out of the lead, which is held by Florida (278). East Tennessee State is second at 284, while UNLV is 285. Clemson is all-alone in fourth place at 287, followed by ACC schools North Carolina, NC State and Wake Forest at 288.