Clemson NCAA Golf Update :: Jonathan Byrd and Lucas Glover were one-under on the front nine on Thursday.

June 1, 2000

Opelika, Ala.--Jonathan Byrd and Lucas Glover both have turned one-under-under par and the Clemson team turned even after the first nine holes of the second round of the NCAA men's golf tournament at Grand National Country Club in Opelika, AL. Clemson stood in 17th place at four over par as a team for the event heading into the back nine.

Clemson, Oklahoma State and Georgia Tech were the first three teams to tee-off on Thursday, so it will be a long wait, until 8:30 PM Eastern time, to see if Clemson makes the 15-team cut.

Glover had a wild ride on the front nine on Thursday. He was much improved over Wednesday when he shot an 80, tied for the worst round of his Clemson career. He scored four birdies on the front nine on Thursday, but had a double bogey and a bogey. Glover's top shot of the front nine was on the par three eighth hole. He hit a five iron to within five feet of the hole, then made the birdie putt on the 208-yard hole.

Glover nearly made an eagle on the ninth hole, but had to settle for par. He hit his approach shot to within 3 inches of the pin on the fly. The ball hit the flagstick, then kicked seven feet to the right. He missed the putt and had to settle for a par.

Byrd was consistent throughout. He made a miraculous par three on the eighth home. He lost his tee shot to the right, hitting it into a marshy area. But, he exploded out and made the putt for par. Carrying the momentum, he then made birdie on the ninth hole to finish with a 35.

D.J. Trahan has been knocking down the pin, but his putting has not come through. He had four birdie putts inside 13 feet on the front nine, but failed to make any of them. He had nine straight pars.

Jani Saari, Clemson's number five player, shot a 38 on the front side, while John Engler struggled on the front side for the second straight day, scoring a 39.

Texas was coming back to the pack on Thursday morning. The Longhorns shot a 272 on Wednesday, 16 under par, but they were 3 over through nine on Thursday.