April 1, 2016
Salem, S.C. – Vincent Whaley shot a 2-under-par 70 to pace Georgia Tech, while the Yellow Jackets opened with an even-par 288 Friday and are in third place at the Clemson Invitational, which is being contested at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls.
TECH LINEUP — Whaley, a junior from McKinney, Texas, birdied five holes and closed his round with an eagle at the par-5 18th hole. He is tied for fifth place. Three other Yellow Jackets are among the top 20 individuals. Sophomore James Clark (Columbus, Ga.) carded an even-par 72 and is tied for 111th place, while junior Michael Hines (Acworth, Ga.) and sophomore Jacob Joiner (Leesburg, Ga.) each shot 73 and are tied for 18th place.
Tech tossed out a 76 from sophomore Chris Petefish (Danville, Calif). Two other Jackets — freshman Tyler Joiner (Leesburg, Ga.) and sophomore Michael Pisciotta (Alpharetta, Ga.), shot 75 and 82, respectively, competing as individuals.
Rain and wind affected play for the first six or seven holes. Collectively, the Yellow Jackets struggled to a 3-over-par front nine, but went 3-under coming in.
TEAM LEADERBOARD — Clemson, the nation’s 11th-ranked team, shot 276 (-12) and has a 9-stroke lead over Louisville (285, -3). All five Tigers broke par in their opening rounds. Tech, ranked No. 47, is 12 strokes off Clemson’s lead in third place. No. 41 Michigan State is fourth at 291 (+3), and Winthrop is fifth at 293 (+5).
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD — Austin Langdale paced Clemson with a 5-under-par 67 to take the opening-round lead. Louisville’s Robin Sciot-Siegrist and the Tigers’ Carson Young and Stephen Behr are two shots back with 69s. Coleman Self of Clemson and Tech’s Whaley are tied for fifth at 70. Four others are tied at 71, and seven players shot even-par 72.
COACH Bruce Heppler SAYS — “Our guys fought all the way through the round today. The back nine has more scoring opportunities than the front. After a rough start, they kept a state of mind that allowed them to take advantage of the finishing holes. It was a positive step in the right direction for this group today.”
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION — The first Clemson Invitational is a 54-hole event that runs through Sunday with 18 holes each day. It is played at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, a 7,103-yard, par 72 layout in Salem, S.C.
The 12-team field includes four ACC teams in 11th-ranked Clemson, the host institution, Boston College, Louisville and Notre Dame, as well as Elon, Furman, Michigan State, Navy, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington and Winthrop.
