Clemson In Second Place After One Round At The Carpet Classic

Oct. 1, 1999

DALTON, Ga. — Clemson juniors John Engler and Lucas Glover each shot four-under-par 68s on Friday to lead Clemson to a 282 team score and a second-place standing after the first round of the Carpet Classic in Dalton, GA. The event is held at The Farm, a par 72 course 6,906 yards in length.

Clemson has won the event on this course three times in the 1990s, but finished ninth out of 18 teams last year, its worst showing of the 1999 regular season. But, the Tigers stand in second place, just three shots behind host school Georgia Tech after 18 holes of the 54-hole event.

Engler shot a five-under-par 31 on the back nine in reaching his 68 on Friday. The back nine showing included an eagle on the par-five 12th hole. He scored a three on six of the first seven holes on the back nine.

Glover had a consistent 35-33 in his nine-hole performances. His 33 on the back included birdies on two of the last four holes. Glover was Clemson’s top golfer at the Ping/Preview last week and is now 10 under par for his last four rounds of golf.

Glover and Engler are tied for the individual lead with Molder of Georgia Tech and Camilo Benedetti of Florida.

Freshman D.J. Trahan shot even par 72 for his round. He had a 34 on the front nine, but slumped to a 38 on the back. Brennen King, a junior playing in just his second career tournament for the Tigers, had a 74 after a pair of 37s for his nine scores, while Jonathan Byrd, Clemson’s senior All-American, had a disappointing 75.

Georgia Tech has the team lead with a 279 score. The Yellow Jackets are led by Bryce Molder, who shot 68, and Matt Kuchar, who fired a 69. Wake Forest is in third place in the 15-team event with a 286 score, while Florida is fourth with a 287.

NC State is fifth with a 287 score, while Houston is sixth at 289. UCLA is seventh in the national field with a 289 score, while Auburn is eighth at 290. Virginia is ninth at 290, defending NCAA champ Georgia is 10th at 292, South Carolina is 11th at 293, North Carolina is 12th at 296, Tennessee is 13th at 297, while East Tennessee State and Mississippi State are tied for 14th at 300.