Clemson Moves to third at Ping/Golfweek Preview

Sept. 29, 2008

Clemson, SC – Kyle Stanley, David May and Ben Martin all had under-par rounds to lead Clemson to a 281 team score and a third-place standing after two rounds of the Ping/Golfweek Preview at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, OH. The Tigers are at 575 after two rounds, tied for third with the University of Georgia. The final round will be played on Tuesday on the par 71 course that is 7,255 yards in length.

Oklahoma State has the team lead at 559, 16 shots ahead of the Tigers. Tennessee is in second place at 567. Clemson and Georgia are tied for third, followed by Southern California at 577, Georgia Tech at 579 and Alabama at 582. Florida State is the only other ACC team in the 15-team field and the Seminoles are tied for 10th at 591.

Clemson shot a three-under-par 281 score as a team on Monday, the second best round of the day behind the 277 by Oklahoma State.

Stanley had the best round of the day among Clemson players with a three-under par 68. The junior All-American had a run of four straight birdies on holes 6,7,8 and 9 to finish at four-under par 33 on the front side. He made a bogey on the 10th hole, then finished with eight consecutive pars. Stanley is in third place at five under par for the tournament, just two shots out of the lead held by Morgan Hoffman of Oklahoma State, who shot a 66 on Tuesday.

David May had a one-under par 70 on Monday thanks to a round that included a triple bogey and an eagle. The senior made a triple bogey on the front nine when he inadvertently hit the ball belonging to an Arizona State player who was playing an adjoining hole at the same time. The ball went into deep rough and it was difficult for May to identify the ball. It resulted in a two shot penalty.

But, May did not let it discourage him as he came back with an eagle on the par five eighth hole. He hit a three-wood 260 yards to the green in two, then made a 50-foot putt for the eagle, his first eagle of the year. He also made a birdie on the 11th hole from five feet and closed with the 70. May stands in a tie for ninth place at 142 entering the final round.

Martin had the most steady round of the Clemson golfers on Monday with a one under par 70. The junior had two birdies, one bogey and 16 pars for his day’s work as he improved from 56th place to 30th with his Monday efforts.

Sam Saunders was also a counter on Monday with a two-over-par 73, a seven-shot improvement over the first round. He was at four-over through seven holes, then played the last 11 holes at two under par.

Freshman Jacob Burger was the non-counter on Monday with a five over par 76. The rookie did play the last six holes at one under par.