May 29, 2008

Clemson Has Second Round Lead at NCAA Golf Championships

West Lafayette, IN--Kyle Stanley shot a four-under par 68 to lead one of Clemson's greatest in-round comebacks in history on Thursday morning at the 111th NCAA Men's Golf Championship at Purdue University's Kampen Course. The Tigers hold a one stroke lead over UCLA. Clemson is first at 589, one shot ahead of UCLA and two shots ahead of Southern California.

Clemson played the back nine, its first nine holes of the day in 11 over par and found itself tied for 15th place at 24 over par for the tournament. But, the Tigers played the front nine, their second of the day, in 11-under par to finish at even par 288 for the round and 13-over par for the tournament. Clemson and Stanford had the top rounds of the day at even par 288.

Clemson's 288 team score on Thursday was 13 shots better than its 301 on Wednesday. It was the best one-day improvement by a Clemson golf team at the NCAA Championships since a 15-stroke improvement on the same day five years ago. Clemson went from a 302 to a 287 for a 15-stroke improvement from the second to the third rounds on May 29, 2003. That was a key round in Clemson's drive to the 2003 National Championship.

This is the first time Clemson has had the lead at the conclusion of an NCAA Tournament round since it had the lead after the final round of the NCAA Golf Championship at Oklahoma State in 2003. Clemson also had the midway lead at Hazeltine in Chaska, MN in 1999.

All five Clemson golfers improved by at least four shots from their first nine to the second nine, including Sam Saunders who shot a 40 on the back nine, but came back with a 34 on the front nine. "This was the tale of two nines," said Clemson Head Coach Larry Penley, who is celebrating his Silver Anniversary as the school's head coach.

Wake Forest in 23rd Place at NCAA Championship

The No. 12 Wake Forest men's golf team bettered its first round score by ten strokes to finish the second round in 23rd place at the NCAA Championship at Purdue.

The Deacons must finish in the top 15 at the conclusion of Friday's third round to advance to Saturday's final round.

Wake faced a similar predicament last season in Williamsburg, Va. when the Deacs found themselves tied for 26th place entering the third round. Wake did not make the cut for the final round in 2007.

Brendan Gielow posted the best score of the second round for the Deacons as the sophomore finished Thursday with a one-under 71. Gielow is six over par for the first two rounds.

UVa Golfers in 24th Place After 2nd Round at NCAAs

West Lafayette, IN - The Virginia men's golf team shot 19-over 307 during the second round of the NCAA Championships at Purdue's Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex to stand in 24th place after 36 holes of play. Virginia shot 312 during Wednesday's opening round and started the day in 21st place.

Following Friday's third round, the field will be trimmed to 15 teams for Saturday's final round. No. 2 Alabama finished the second round in 15th place at 30-over 606, 13 shots ahead of the Virginia.

Cavalier sophomore Kyle Stough led Virginia in scoring for the second consecutive round. He shot 1-over 73 and enters the third round in 17th place at 4-over 148. Stough picked up three birdies over his final seven holes to move into the top-20.

Van der Vaart tied for 54th at NCAA Championship

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Virginia Tech golfer Jurrian van der Vaart shot a three-over-par 75 and is tied for 54th place at the NCAA Men's Golf Championship at the 7,450-yard, par 72 Kampen Course of the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., on Thursday afternoon.

Van der Vaart, a senior from Almelo, the Netherlands, improved from his opening round 78. He has a two-day total of 153 and is one of nine golfers at plus-eight for the tournament.