Clemson Tied for 8th After First Round Of East Regional

May 17, 2001

Williamsburg, VA – All five Clemson golfers shot even-par or better in the same round for the first time all year, but the Tigers find themselves in eighth-place as a team after the first round of the NCAA East Regional in Williamsburg, VA. The event is being played on the par 72 Green Course at the Golden Horseshoe Country Club.

It was a balanced performance for the Tigers, who shot 285 as a team. Lucas Glover, Gregg Jones and Jani Saari all shot one-under-par 71 scores for the Tigers, while senior John Engler and sophomore D.J. Trahan had even par 72s.

It was the most balanced team round all year for Larry Penley’s Tigers. Clemson had not had a round all year in which all five golfers shot par or better, the first time a Clemson team had done that since Feb. 22, 1999 in the second round of the San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico.

Clemson is 10 shots off the lead, which is held by East Tennessee State, who shot a blistering 275 as a team, 13-under-par. The Florida Gators shot a team round of 276, led by individual leader Camilo Villegas, who had a 64. Villegas has a two-shot lead over Thomas Lee of East Tennessee State. Number-one ranked Georgia is third at 10-under-par.

The 54-hole event continues at the same course on Friday and Saturday. The top 10 teams in the 27-team field will advance to the NCAA Championships at the Duke University Course in Durham, NC May 30 to June 2.

Clemson is the defending champion of this regional event, and has won it four times overall, more than any other school. Clemson has qualified for the national aspect of the event all 12 of the previous regional events. But, the Tigers will have to pick up the pace on Friday. Clemson is just one stroke off the 10-team cut after the first day.

Clemson is tied for eighth place with ACC rival and second ranked Georgia Tech.