Tigers in 4th Place after First Round in Puerto Rico

Clemson, S.C.—Miller Capps and Billy Kennerly both had under-par scores to lead Clemson to an even-par 288 team score and a fourth-place standing out of 15 teams after the first round of the Puerto Rico Classic in San Juan.  The 54-hole three-day tournament at the Rio Mar River Course continues Monday and Tuesday.

Georgia has the team lead at eight-under-par 288, and is followed by defending NCAA Champion Alabama at 285.  Virginia Tech is third at 287, followed by Clemson at 288, Oklahoma at 291 and sixth-ranked Georgia Tech at 292.

Capps had a round of 69 on Sunday and is tied for second overall in the 75-player field.  The junior had a Clemson team best six birdies, including four birdies in a six-hole run from holes 13 through 18.  His only real blemish of the day took place on the par three third hole when he made a double bogey.  It was his fourth round in the 60s and his eighth under -par round of the year.

Kennerly had a round of 70 on the 6,902-yard course.  He had three birdies and just one bogey in registering his eighth under-par round of the year.  He made birdies on holes 10, 11 and 14 and stands in a tie for seventh place individually after the first round.

Sophomore Carson Young double bogeyed the 16^th and 17^th holes on the course, among his first nine holes of the day, but battled back with four birdies and shot  74 to rank in a tie for 30^th place individually.

Freshman Josh Fickes also counted for the Clemson team score on Sunday as he had a three-over-par round of 75.  Fickes had three birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey in his first golfing experience for the Tigers outside the Continental United States.

Clemson’s top player, Cody Proveaux, had to withdraw from Sunday’s round due to a pulled muscle in his midsection.   His status for the remainder of the tournament is unknown.  Proveaux entered the tournament with a team best 70.75 stroke average and his No. 55 national ranking is the best among Clemson golfers.