Clemson Tied for Fourth Entering Final Round in Puerto Rico

Feb. 26, 2007

Clemson, SC-Freshman Ben Martin made a 12-shot improvement in his second round and led Clemson to a 284 team score and a fourth-place standing after two rounds of the Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Mar, Puerto Rico.

Georgia stands at 20 under par after two rounds with a 556 team score, followed by Stanford at 560. East Tennessee State, who had a six-shot lead after the first round, slumped to a 290 team score on Monday, but is still in third place at 563, 13-under par. Clemson and number-one ranked (Sagarin Poll) Alabama are tied for fourth at 567, nine-under par. Minnesota is sixth at 572, followed by Georgia Tech at 574. Defending NCAA Champion Oklahoma State and perennial power Florida, who is number-one in the coaches poll, are tied for eighth at 577.

The 18-team tournament concludes on Tuesday.

Martin had a 69 on Monday after struggling with an 81 on Sunday. He went from Clemson’s worst player on Sunday to its best on Monday. He had a 64 earlier this year in the second round at the Carpet Classic, making a 10-stroke improvement in that second round. Clemson’s top player for the tournament is freshman Sam Saunders at five-under par 139. Saunders had a 70 on Monday after scoring a season low 69 on Sunday. He stands in seventh place individually, just three shots out of the lead held by Joseph Bramlett of Stanford and Brendon Todd of Georgia (tied at 136).

David May gave the Tigers three players at par or better on Monday with an even par 72. He had a 73 in the first round and is now at 145 for 36 holes, 31st in the individual race.

Junior Tanner Ervin, who had a 70 in opening round, then had a 73 on Monday and is 21st individually. He had two birdies over his last three holes to close fast. Kyle Stanley, who had a 71 on Sunday, had a 73 on Monday and is in 27th place at 144. Stanley has scored at 75 or better in each of his 14 rounds so far this year.