Glover Tied for Lead after First Round of PGA

Aug. 17, 2006

Clemson, SC-Former Clemson All-American Lucas Glover fired a six-under-par 66 in the opening round of the PGA at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, IL on Thursday. Glover is tied for the lead after one round with Chris Riley. He is the first former Clemson golfer to have the lead after any round of a professional major.

Glover is one of two former Clemson golfers to rank among the top 10 golfers after the first round. Jonathan Byrd fired a three-under-par 69 in the first round and is tied for 10th with among others, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

Glover’s round of six-under par was the best ever by a former Clemson golfer in a major in terms of score vs. par. The previous best was a four-under par 66 by Jonathan Byrd on the par 70 Olympia Fields Course (also near Chicago) in the 2003 US Open. Dillard Pruitt had a four-under par 68 at the 1992 Masters. Glover’s 66 tied Byrd’s score at the 2003 US Open for the lowest total score by a former Clemson golfer in a major.

Glover’s round included eight birdies, eight pars and two bogeys. Three times he had back-to-back birdies (2-3, 10-11 and 15-16). Glover birdied three of his last four holes in scoring his 66.

Glover, a native of Greenville, SC, is in good position to make his first cut in a professional major. The 26-year-old is playing in his sixth major, but has yet to make a cut. With his participation in the PGA on Thursday he became the first former Tiger to play in all four majors in the same year. Glover ranks 24th on the PGA Tour money list this year with over $1.7 million.

Byrd and former Clemson NCAA Champion Charles Warren are also playing in the 2006 PGA. Byrd fired a three under -par 69, tied for the sixth best score in a major by a former Clemson golfer. It was Byrd’s best score in a major since he shot a 69 in the final round of the 2003 US Open at Olympia Fields, which is also near Chicago. Byrd, a native of Columbia who was born in Anderson, has played in just 12 events this year due to injury, but still has earned over $750,000 and has already clinched his PGA Tour card for next year.

Byrd and Glover were teammates for three years at Clemson. Byrd played from 1997-2000 and Glover played from 1998-2001.