Warren Captures BUY.com Tournament

April 28, 2002

Clemson, SC – Former Clemson All-American Charles Warren fired a four-under-par 68 on Sunday and won the BMW Charity Pro Am at the Cliffs BUY.com event at the Cliffs Valley Course in Travelers Rest, SC He captured the championship with a 23-under-par 264 score over the four days, four strokes ahead of the field. The 1997 NCAA Champion, who threw out the first pitch of the Clemson vs. Wake Forest baseball game on Saturday night, won $94,500, his biggest check as a professional.

It marked the second straight year a former Clemson golfer had won the event. Last year Jonathan Byrd shot an 18-under-par score to win the tournament title. Byrd used that victory to finish eighth on the BUY.com money list and is now on the PGA Tour.

Warren had rounds of 67-65-64-68 for his four rounds and the 23-under score was just three shots off the all-time BUY.com record of 26 under. For the four rounds Warren had 25 birdies and just four bogeys. A key to his performance was the 12-13-14 holes on Valley course. Over the last two rounds he birdied those three holes each day.

“This is a thrill of a lifetime,” said Warren in accepting the championship trophy, presentation televised live by the Golf Channel. “I have had this event marked on my calendar. This is like a major to me. To have all the support from the Clemson people all week was just terrific. My putting was the key. I made putts all week.”

It was the first professional victory for Warren, who was a two-time ACC Champion during his time (1994-98) at Clemson. He earned his degree in May of 1998 and has been on the PGA or BUY.com tours ever since. Last year at this time he was recovering from shoulder surgery and served as an on-course announcer for the Golf Channel as he watched Byrd win the championship.

It marked the seventh time a former Clemson golfer had won a BUY.com tour event. Kevin Johnson, who also competed in Greenville this weekend, leads the way with three wins. Chris Patton and Clarence Rose also won BUY.com events in their careers.

Warren was one of five golfers with Clemson connections who made the cut at the BMW Charity Pro Am at the Cliffs. Charles Raulerson, who played two years at Clemson before transferring, finished 14th with a 12-under-par score (274). Johnson finished at eight-under par 279, good enough for 35th. Current Clemson junior D.J. Trahan shot a 74 on Sunday, but still finished at seven-under par 280, good enough for 45th. John Engler, an All-American on last year’s team, shot a third straight 71 and finished 54th. He had a 282 score for the four days.

Clemson at the BMW Charity Pro Am at the Cliffs

Charles Warren          67-65-64-68     264     -23     1stCharles Raulerson               71-69-68-67     274     -12     14thKevin Johnson           74-66-68-71     279     -8      35thD.J. Trahan             67-70-69-74     280     -7      45thJohn Engler             69-71-71-71     282     -5      54th

Clemson Tigers Buy.com Tour Victories

Golfer          Year    EventChris Patton    1993    Albuquerque OpenClarence Rose   1995    Pensacola OpenKevin Johnson   1997    Puget Sound Open                1999    South Carolina Classic                2000    Permian Basin ClassicJonathan Byrd   2001    Charity Pro-Am at the CliffsCharles Warren  2002    Charity Pro-Am at the Cliffs