Clemson Downs Purdue at Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championships

Nov. 8, 2002

Clemson won its first-round match with a 3-2 victory over Purdue at the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship at Barefoot Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC. The Tigers advance to the second round to play Oklahoma State. This 16-team tournament is the only match play event of the college season.

Clemson, seeded number-one in the tournament and ranked number-one in the nation overall, is competing this weekend without D.J. Trahan, the nation’s number-one ranked player, who is taking the tournament off after a worldwide fall schedule. Clemson veterans Matt Hendrix, Gregg Jones and Jack Ferguson all gained convincing victories in leading the Tigers over the Boilermakers.

Ferguson had the easiest match with a 6-and-5 triumph over Dustin Cone. The two players were all square through six holes, then Ferguson gained victory on #7, #9, #13 and #14. He closed out the match with a birdie two on the par three 15th.

Hendrix had a 3-up victory over Purdue’s Chris Mayson, the Boilermakers number-one player. Hendrix had just a one-hole lead through eight, then closed out the front nine with a victory on the ninth. He also won the 10th and 11th holes. He always had at least a two-hole lead the rest of the matchup.

Gregg Jones, a second-team All-American last year, defeated Ryan Masuda of Purdue 4 and 2. the match was all square through six holes, then Jones won the eighth and nine holes. His largest lead was the final score as he birdied 16th while Masuda bogeyed the hole.

Ben Duncan was defeated by Shiv Kapur of Purdue 3 up, while his brother, Brian Duncan lost to Peter Karmis 4 and 2. It was the first collegiate appearance for Brian Duncan, who red-shirted last season.