University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Yelverton Well Back at NCAA Tourney
5/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Yelverton Well Back at NCAA Tourney
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss golfer Tim Yelverton did not fare well in opening day action at the NCAA East Regional Tournament being played at Ansley Golf Club's Settindown Creek course in Roswell, Ga. The Golden Eagle senior shot an opening round 12-over-par 84 and is in a tie for 136th place in the 27-team field that includes six players who were selected to compete as individuals.
Clemson leads the team competition after one round with a two-under-par 286 total, the only team under par after 18 holes. Clemson's D.J. Trahan shot a three-under-par 69 over the 7,119-yard, par-72 layout and leads the medalist race. Only 11 players in the 141-player field managed to better par during the first round.
Golden Eagle Head Coach Steve Johnson, who is at the tournament with Yelverton, says the course is playing extremely tough. "Six of the top 10 teams in the country are playing in this tournament and only one of them managed to finish under par," he said. "Tim got off to a bad start, especially putting the ball. He started on the back side and went 45-39--84. The course really played tough for everyone, but knowing Tim as I do, I really feel that he will bounce back with good rounds Friday and Saturday."
Yelverton went into the tournament off a solid performance in the Conference USA Championship in Florida where he finished fifth to earn both All-Conference and All-Tournament honors, along with the invite to the NCAA tournament. He is only the second Southern Miss player selected to play in the NCAA tournament in the past 15 years.
Yelverton and his group will tee off at 8:09 a.m., Friday.
