Team Clemson 17 Under par in First Round of Bellsouth Classic

March 30, 2006

Clemson, SC-Five former Clemson All-Americans fired a combined 17-under par in the first round of the Bellsouth Classic in Duluth, GA on Thursday. The PGA event is being played at the par 72 TPC at Sugarloaf. Four of the five rank in the top 20 after the first 18 holes.

Charles Warren leads the Clemson contingent with a seven-under par 65 in the opening round and he stands in third place, just two shots behind leader and defending champion Phil Mickelson. It was Warren’s best round vs. par all year and best total score since he shot a six-under-par 64 at the Sony Open in Hawaii to open the season in January.

Warren’s round included an eagle two on the par four 13th hole. The 1997 NCAA Champion who was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame this past fall reached 16 of the 18 greens in regulation, fifth best in the field. Warren is looking to make his sixth consecutive cut, which would be a career high. He stands 53rd on the money list entering this week’s play.

Danny Ellis fired an opening round 68 on Tuesday. The 1994 Clemson graduate had nine-hole scores of 33-35 and is tied for ninth after the opening round.

Jonathan Byrd, an All-American at Clemson in 1999 and 2000, fired a three-under par 69 on Tuesday and stands in a tie for 17th place. He finished strong with a three-under par score over his last 13 holes. D.J. Trahan, the national player of the year for the Tigers in 2002 and captain of Clemson’s 2003 National Championship team, also shot a 69 on Monday. He had a 32 on the back nine and finished the day with eight consecutive pars on the front, as he played the nines in reverse order.

John Engler, a rookie on the PGA Tour, shot an even par 72 on Tuesday. The 2001 Clemson graduate was three under par over his last 10 holes.

Lucas Glover, the sixth former Clemson All-American on the PGA Tour this year, is sitting out the BellSouth Classic as he prepares to play in his first Masters next weekend.