Men’s Golf Plays Ping Golfweek Review

Sept. 28, 1998

EDINA, Minn. – John Engler shot a first round 73 to lead Clemson after the first round of the Ping Golfweek Preview at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Edina, MN. The event is being held at the site of the NCAA championship, which will be played next June 2-5.

The event features 15 teams, all ranked in the top 25 in the nation. Hazeltine is one of the premier courses in the nation and will be the host of the 2001 PGA Championship. The course is a par 72, but is playing at 7301 yards, one of the longest courses in the history of college golf.

Engler had nines of 33 and 40 in pacing the Tigers. The sophomore ranks seventh in the field of 75 golfers after the first round. Junior Jonathan Byrd, the only player in Clemson history to be named first-team All-ACC as a freshman and sophomore, also fared much better on the front nine than the back. The native of Columbia had nines of 35-39 and ranks 10th with his 74 score.

The other three Tigers scored in the 80s. Lucas Glover, who finished second at the first tournament of the year two weekends back, had an 80 in the first round on Monday. Sean Thornton, playing his first tournament in a year, also had an 80. Senior Elliot Gealy fired an 84. Clemson shot 307 as a team, 19 strokes over par.

The field was to play 36 holes on Monday, but darkness forced suspension in play. The teams will finish their second rounds on Tuesday morning, then complete the 54-hole event in the afternoon.

Houston and host school Minnesota lead the event with a +3 291 score. Arizona State is second at 292. Georgia and defending national champion UNLV are at 294, six-over-par. Oklahoma State is sixth at 297.