Tiger Golfers Fifth after First Round at ACC Tournament

April 21, 2006

New London, NC – Brian Duncan fired a four-under-par 68, while freshmen David May and Vince Hatfield combined for one over par play in their first career round at the conference tournament, to lead Clemson to a 285 team score and a tie for fifth place after the first round of the 2006 ACC Tournament. The 53rd annual event is being played for the 10th time at the par 72, 7,102-yard Old North State Club in New London, NC.

Seven of the 11 schools competing (all ACC teams except Miami (FL), shot under par for the day. Georgia Tech made the turn in 10-under-par and had a 12-under-par 276 score for the day. North Carolina finished strong, including a pair of eagles within the last six holes, and stands in second place at 278. Maryland and NC State are tied for third at 284, one shot better than Florida State and Clemson.

Duke is seventh at 287, while Virginia Tech is eighth at 291 and Wake Forest is ninth at 292. Virginia is 10th at 293 and Boston College, making its first appearance at the ACC Men’s Golf Tournament, is 11th at 314.

Clemson entered the ACC tournament coming off its first victory in two years at the United States Collegiate at the Golf Club of Georgia on April 10-11. The Tigers were five-under-par, just five shots out of the lead in the middle of the back nine, but the Tigers played the last four holes two-over-par. NC State by comparison, counted four-under par for the last two holes alone.

Duncan shot a four-under-par 68, his best round of the year in terms of total and versus par. Clemson’s most consistent golfer and 20th rated player nationally had three consecutive birdies on the back nine at one point (14 thru 16), but bogeyed the par five 18th.

Still, his 68 was a career best in the ACC tournament for the senior from Greenville, SC. He started the day with an eagle on the first hole and shot 33 on the front nine. He had a wild ride on the back nine with four birdies and three bogeys to finish with the 68.

Duncan stands in third place individually, tied with three other golfers, including Maryland’s John Eades, who is the son of a Clemson graduate. Michael Barbosa, the fourth-ranked player in the Georgia Tech lineup, had a tournament best 65 on Friday to hold a two-shot lead after 18 holes. He opened and closed his round with eagles on par fives. Matthew Savage had a five-under par 67 to rank second. David May and Tanner Ervin both overcame double bogeys to finish at even par. Ervin double bogeyed the par five first hole, but played the next 15 holes at three-under-par before recording a bogey at the par three 17th. May was two-under-par for the first eight holes, then double bogeyed the ninth.

Vince Hatfield, like May a freshman, was solid all day and he recorded eight straight pars on the back side before finishing with a birdie on the 18th hole. Hatfield and May are the first freshman duo to start for Clemson in the ACC tournament since John Engler and Lucas Glover played for the Tigers in 1998. Both Engler and Glover played in the Houston Open on the PGA Tour on Friday.

Stephen Poole, who was coming off the first tournament title of his career when he won the United States Collegiate 10 days ago, had an opening round 78 that included a bogey, triple bogey finish. It ended a streak of eight consecutive rounds at 74 or better for Poole.

The Tournament continues with 18 holes on Saturday and Sunday.