11 Tigers Shoot in the 60s

June 12, 2003

Clemson, SC – Friday, May 30, 2003 was a memorable day in Clemson golf history. That was the day the Tigers won the golf program’s first National Championship with a two-shot victory over Oklahoma State on the Cowboys home course, Karsten Creek in Stillwater, OK.

Thursday, June 12, less than two weeks later, won’t be held in quite that level of reverence, but on an individual basis for Tigers current and past, it will be difficult to duplicate. No less than 11 golfers with ties to Clemson shot in the 60s on Thursday in various amateur and professional events around the country. All eleven played or are still playing for current Clemson Head Coach Larry Penley.

The list was led by rising sophomore Brian Duncan, who had a nine-under-par and course record 63 at Green Valley Country Club in Greenville, SC. His 63 on Thursday and 134 total for two days won the medallist qualifying portion of the South Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship. He now moves on to the match play portion on Friday. Former Clemson All-American Dillard Pruitt (67) and former Tiger Tripp James (69) were also in the 60s in the same event and also will advance to the match play portion.

On the PGAs Nationwide Tour, former All-American Lucas Glover shot a seven-under-par 64 at the Glenmaura Country Club at the Northeast Pennsylvania Classic. Glover had eight birdies and a bogey in recording his career best round on the Nationwide Tour. He holds a one-shot lead after the first round. Glover, a native of Greenville and an All-American at Clemson in 2000 and 2001, has experience on this course. He finished fourth individually along with Jonathan Byrd (see below) and led the Tigers to the NCAA East Regional title at Glenmaura in 2000.

During the same event thisweek in Pennsylvania, former Clemson All-American and 1998 NCAA Champion Charles Warren also scored in the 60s with a first-round 67. His performance included a hole-in-one on the 240-yard par 3 15th hole. It was his second hole in one on the Nationwide Tour in the last three weeks. He scored an ace on the seventh hole in the final round of the SAS Carolina Classic in Raleigh on May 25. Chris Patton, the only former Tiger to win the US Amateur (1989), had an opening round 68 at this week’s Hooter’s Tour event at Chesterfield, VA. Patton is currently second on that tour in birdies, and 11th on the money list.

Considering the level of competition, former Clemson All-American Jonathan Byrd had the most impressive round in the 60s on Thursday. The 2000 graduate, who was an academic and on-the-course All-American as a junior and a senior, had an opening round. 69 at his first US Open. He stands in the top 15 after the first round and hopes to become the third former Tiger to make the cut at a US Open. The others to make the cut have been Dillard Pruitt (1989 abd 1992) and Charles Warren in 2000. Byrd shot an even par 288 at his first Masters earlier this year, meaning he is shooting even par for his five rounds in major events.

His one-under-par round at Olympia Fields Country Club outside of Chicago included five birdies and four bogeys. It was just the second time a former Clemson golfer had scored in the 60s in the US Open. The aforementioned Dillard Pruitt had a 68 in the opening round of the US Open at Rochester, NY in 1989.

Four current Clemson players had rounds in the 60s at the Monroe Amateur on Thursday. Jack Ferguson and Matt Hendrix both had rounds of 68, while Gregg Jones and Martin Catalioto had rounds of 69. After two rounds, Hendrix is seventh at the event overall with a 138 total, while Jones is 10th at 139. Brent Delahoussaye, who was not a member of the 60-club on Thursday, but had an opening round 67 on Wednesday, is tied for 13th at 140. Ferguson is 23rd at 142 for the two rounds, while Catalioto is 38th at 145.

Clemson Golf Summary of Thursday, June 12, 2003

Golfer Clemson Years Event Score

Brian Duncan Rising Soph. S. Carolina Match Play 63

Lucas Glover 1997-01 Nationwide PGA 64

Dillard Pruitt 1980-84 S. Carolina Match Play 67

Charles Warren 1994-98 Nationwide PGA 67

Jack Ferguson Rising Junior Monroe Amateur 68

Chris Patton 1986-90 Hooter’s Tour 68

Matt Hendrix Current Senior Monroe Amateur 68

Tripp James 1997-01 S. Carolina Match Play 69

Gregg Jones Rising Senior Monroe Amateur 69

Martin Catalioto Rising Soph. Monroe Amateur 69