Blue Devils Tied For First After 36 Holes Of The 2005 Coca-Cola Duke Classic

Sunday, October 9

Durham, N.C. (Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club)

All Day

Duke University

Day One

Blue Devils Tied For First After 36 Holes Of The 2005 Coca-Cola Duke Classic

10/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf

By: Duke Sports Information

After two rounds of play at the 2005 Coca-Cola Duke Classic, the host Duke Blue Devils and Coastal Carolina are tied for the tournament lead at 14-under (562). The Blue Devil foursome of Ryan Blaum, Jake Grodzinsky, Michael Schachner and Nathan Smith all enter tomorrow's final round ranked in the top-10 of the individual standings.

Coastal Carolina jumped on top after the first round with an eight-under 280 to take a three shot lead over Duke (-5, 283) heading into the second 18 holes of the day. Michigan State's Ryan Brehm posted the top round of the opening 18 with a six-under 66. Brehm, who opened up play on No. 8, fired a 32 on the front side of course with a 34 on the back side. Dustin Johnson (Coastal Carolina) was one shot back of Brehm with a -5, 67.

The Duke trio of Ryan Blaum, Nathan Smith and Jake Grodzinsky each shot 34-36=72 to sit tied for fifth and four shots off the individual lead heading into round two. Michael Schachner shot a +1, 73 in round one, while Michael Quagliano was +2.

Freshman Clark Klaasen, competing as an individual, fired a 34-37=71 (-1) to sit in a 13th place tie after one round. Senior Alex Wilson shot 34-39=74 as an individual while freshman Justin Hare, also competing as an individual, posted a +5, 77 in his first round of the day.

The Blue Devils came out in their second round and posted a tournament low nine-under 279. Schachner led the way with a four-under 68, while Grodzinsky fired a ?3, 69 and both Blaum and Smith shot one-under par (71) on their second rounds of the day.

Coastal Carolina fired a 282 (-6) in the second round, led by Johnson's 67. The Lexington, S.C., native finished the day with a ?10, 134 to hold two shot lead over Brehm. Minnesota's Antti Ahokas is three shots back after a 69-68=137 day. Five players, including Duke's Grodzinsky, are tied for fourth at ?5 (139). N.C. State's Stephen Lewton is ninth at ?4 and five players, including Blaum, Smith and Schachner, are tied for tenth.

Klaasen continued his strong play in the second round, firing a 73 to close the day tied for 21st at even-par (144). Wilson is tied for 30th at +1 and Hare is tied for 56th at +6 (150).

Minnesota (-8), Charlotte (-5), Northwestern (-4) and North Carolina State (-2) also sit under-par after the first two rounds of play. Action at the Duke Golf Course begins on Monday at 8:00 a.m.