Clemson in Second Place After First Round of Puerto Rico Classic

Feb. 19, 2012

CLEMSON, SC – Sophomore Thomas Bradshaw fired a three-under pa 69 to lead Clemson to a five-under par 283 team score and a second place standing after the first round of the Puerto Rico Classic. The 15 team event that includes 10 top 20 teams continues with the second round on Monday at the River Course at Rio Mar Country Club near San Juan, Puerto Rico. The 54-hole event concludes on Tuesday.

Alabama has the lead with an opening round 276. Clemson is second followed by Oklahoma at 284. Number-one ranked Texas and Virginia Tech are tied for fourth at 288, while Georgia and Purdue are tied for sixth at 289.

Bradshaw was listed as Clemson’s number-five player entering the tournament, but his 69 was not only the best by a Tiger on Sunday, it was third best in the field of 75 golfers. Bradshaw made six birdies overall, including five in a row from holes six through 10. He started the round two over par through five before he hit that hot streak. It was the first time all year he was Clemson’s best player of the day.

US Public Links Champion Corbin Mills was two-under-par on Sunday. His solid day included five birdies and three bogeys. He made birdies on three of his last six holes to finish strong and bring Clemson into second place in the team standings.

Senior McCuen Elmore and freshman Billy Kennerly both had even par rounds of 72. Elmore overcame a double bogey on the par three third-hole with birdies on the 10th, 12th and 15th holes on the back. Kennerly had a very clean round with one bogey, one birdie and 16 pars.

Crawford Reeves, playing in his first round of the year, had an opening round 74. He played well with the exception of a double bogey on the par three seventh hole.

Scores can be followed by going to golfstat.com.