Biershenk Reaches Finals of South Carolina Match Play

June 21, 2004

Clemson, SC – Clemson rising sophomore Nick Biershenk reached the finals of the South Carolina Match Play completed on Sunday. His performance highlighted summer competition by five current Clemson golfers over the weekend.

Biershenk reached the finals of the Match Play before losing to Todd White on Spartanburg in the 36-hole finals 1-up. It was a tough loss for Biershenk, who left a 30-foot birdie putt on the 36th hole just three inches from the cup. White never trailed in the match, but Biershenk battled back to tie the score on three occasions, including after 31 holes. It was the second Match Play championship title for White, who also won in 1991.

Biershenk won the event two years ago, the summer before his freshman year at Clemson. Former Tiger All-American Dillard Pruitt won the South Carolina Match Play in 2003. Current Tigers Tanner Ervin and Martin Catalioto also participated in the South Carolina Match Play, and qualified for the match play portion after posting qualifying 36-hole scores earlier in the week. However, both players lost in the first round of the 32-man draw.

In other action over the weekend, rising Clemson senior Brent Delahoussaye finished a strong sixth at the Monroe Invitational in Monroe, NY. It is his second consecutive top 10 finish in a major amateur event this summer. Delahoussaye, the 2003 champion at the Monroe, had rounds of 65-72-70-69 for a four-under par 276 total. Stephen Poole, who will be a junior on Larry Penley’s Clemson golf team this coming year, finished 42nd with a 289 total.

On the professional circuits, former Tiger All-American Charles Warren finished ninth at the Nationwide Tour event in Pennsylvania. The 1998 Clemson graduate and 1997 NCAA Champion had an eight-under par 276 score for the week after scores of 69-70-68-69. D.J. Trahan, the leader of Clemson’s national championship team of 2003, finished 36th with a 283 score.

Ben Duncan, also a starter on Clemson’s 2003 national championship team, finished sixth at The Gateway Tour event completed last Friday at Angel Trace Golf Links in Myrtle Beach. It was his second straight top six finish on The Gateway Tour.

Former Clemson player Elliott Gealy finished 17th at the Hooter’s Tour event this past weekend with a 277 score, 11-under par. He is currently fifth on the Hooter’s Tour money list. Gregg Jones, a senior on the 2004 Clemson team and another starter off Clemson’s 2003 National Championship team, finished 39th in his first professional event. He had a 282 total after rounds of 71-71-71-69.

Former Tigers Jonathan Byrd and Joey Maxon both played in the United States Open at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island, but both players failed to make the cut.