May Leads Tigers with Opening 68

Nov. 4, 2005

Dalton, GA – Freshman David May fired a four-under par 68 to lead Clemson to a 293 team score and a sixth place standing out of 18 teams after the first round of the Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic in Dalton, GA on Friday. The 54-hole event is being held at The Farm, a 7010-yard course that is par 72.

Clemson shot a 293 team score to rank sixth in the field that includes 12 of the top 25 teams in the nation. Clemson played better than seven top 25 teams on Friday, including second ranked Georgia Tech, who shot a team score of 305, 12 shots worse than the Tigers.

Florida has the lead after shooting a six-under-par 282 on Friday. Georgia State is second at 284 followed by defending ACC Champion Duke at 288. Defending NCAA Champion Georgia is fourth at 289, followed by Texas Tech at 292 and Clemson. The Tiges have a two shot lead over East Tennessee State and a four shot advantage over eighth place Augusta State.

May had his best round of the year as the native of Auburn, NY had five birdies and just one bogey. Unfortunately, the bogey came on the ninth hole, his final hole of the day. He had four birdies on the back nine, his first nine holes of the day, including consecutive birdies on the 13th, 14th and 15th holes. He stands tied for second place trailing only Chris Kirk of Georgia. Clark Klaasen of Duke and James Vargas of Florida also shot 68s on Friday.

Brian Duncan also had a solid day with an even par 72. The senior from Greenville had two birdies and two bogeys. He had birdies on the sixth and seventh holes coming in to finish strong.

The other three Tigers were over 75 on the day. Martin Catalioto had a 76, Stephen Poole fired a 77 and freshman Phillip Mollica had a 78. Catalioto had a strong 36 on the back side, Poole had an eagle three on the par five 15th and Mollica double bogeyed his final hole of the day, or his score would have counted towards Clemson’s team total.