Verplank, Two Other Golfers Shoot 68s to Share Top Spot in NCAA Tournament

Oklahoma State’s Scott Verplank, Clemson’s Brad Clark and Wake Forest’s Tim Straub each shot four-under-par 68s Wednesday to share the first-round lead in the 89th annual NCAA Division I men’s golf championship at Bermuda Run Country Club.

Straub led the Deacons into a tie with Oklahoma for the team lead at 286. Miami (Fla.) was third with a par 288, while Verplank led Oklahoma State into fourth place with a 289.

Oklahoma’s Todd Hamilton shot a 69, while Florida State’s Nolan Henke, Fresno State’s Tim Loustalot, LSU’s Bob Friend and Furman’s Mark Tucker each had a 70.

Verplank, who won the U.S. Amateur in 1984 but who hasn’t won a tournament this season, started on the back nine and matched par 36 with a birdie on No. 13 and a three-putt bogey on the par-3 16th. He came back strong on the front nine with birdies and no bogeys for a 32.

Sam Randolph of USC, who succeeded Verplank as U.S. Amateur champion, shot a 36-37--73, one over par.