SUNSET, S.C. – Freshman Keller Harper (+5) carded a 77 to tie for 27th place to lead the Furman men’s golf team in the first round of the Clemson Invitational on Friday at the par 72, 7,103 yard The Cliffs at Keowee Falls.

Harper, a native of Atlanta, Ga., posted a team-high three birdies, while senior Bryce Howell (+7) birdied No. 17 to tie for 39th with a 79. Sophomore Connor Bruns (+10) scored a birdie on No. 8 and enters Saturday’s round tied for 54th with an 82. Junior Hunter Nichols (+12) added an 84 with consecutive birdies on No. 10 and No. 11 to tie for 60th, and sophomore Garrison Hogan (+13) is 64th after posting an 85 on Friday.

William Rainey (-3) of College of Charleston, who ranks 79th nationally, leads the field with a 69, while Alabama’s Davis Riley (-1) is in second place after carding an opening-round 71. Rainey and Riley were the only two players to shoot under par on Friday. 

No. 18 Clemson (+6) holds a two-stroke lead over 21st-ranked Georgia Tech (+8), while No. 28 Alabama (+10) is third. College of Charleston (+15) sits in fourth place, followed by SMU (+18) in fifth.  The Paladins (+34) are in 11th place after one round.

Furman will tee off of No. 10 at 9:50 a.m. on Saturday in the second round of the 54-hole tournament.