Clemson 17th in Preseason Golf Poll

Sept. 23, 2005

Clemson is ranked 17th in the nation in the preseason GCAA/Bridgestone Division I Coaches Poll released Friday. Clemson is tied for 17th with Alabama, the school that will play host to Clemson’s first tournament of the year. The Tigers open their season October 10 at the Jerry Pate Invitational in Birmingham, AL.

Clemson is one of four ACC teams ranked in the top 20. Duke leads the way with a fifth-place ranking according to the coaches, just one rung ahead of Georgia Tech. Wake Forest is eighth.

Clemson has been to the NCAA Tournament every year since 1982, a streak of 24 consecutive invitations. Clemson returns five lettermen from last year’s team. The top returning stroke average players are seniors Brian Duncan (74.14) ad Stephen Poole (75.17). Clemson Head Coach Larry Penley signed five freshmen this past fall and they will challenge for starting positions.

Georgia, the defending NCAA Champion, leads the poll, followed by second-ranked Oklahoma State and third ranked Florida. UNLV is ranked fourth, followed by Duke and Georgia Tech. BYU stands seventh, Wake Forest is eighth, Washington is ninth and Arizona State is 10th.