Clemson First After two Rounds of E-Z-GO Schenkel Invitational

March 22, 2003

Statesboro, GA-Jack Ferguson fired a second round 67 to lead Clemson to a first-place standing after two rounds of the E-Z-GO Chris Schenkel Invitational. The Tigers have a two-shot lead over ACC rival Wake Forest heading into Sunday’s final round.

The 15-team field played 36 holes on Saturday and will finish the event with 18 holes on Sunday. Clemson had team rounds of 281-286 for a 567 total after the two rounds. It marked the fifth and sixth straight rounds at par or better for the Tigers over the last three tournaments.

Wake Forest had consistent rounds of 285 and 284 to rank second with a 36-hole team score of 569. Auburn stands third at 571, while Florida and NC State are tied for fourth at 575.

Clemson is making its 14th appearance in the event in its history and has won the tournament twice, 1988 and 1999. Last year Clemson finished sixth, the only tournament in the last 18 in which the number-one ranked Tigers failed to finish in the top three.

Ferguson, who was Clemson’s number-three ranked player heading into the tournament, had rounds of 72 and 67 on Saturday and stands tied for second individually. The sophomore from Seneca, SC was four under par for his first seven holes in the second round on Saturday. He could have easily shot a 66, but he bogeyed his final hole of the day after he hit an approach shot over the green.

This marked the third time this year that Ferguson had shot 67 or better, the second time this year he had done it on the second round in the same day. He had a 66 on his second 18 at the Jerry Pate Invitational earlier this year. Ferguson trails individual leader Will Claxton of Auburn by one shot. Claxton, Auburn’s number-four ranked player this year, had rounds of 67 and 71 and stands at 138. Ferguson is tied with Auburn’s number-five player, Stuart Moore, who had rounds of 69-70.

Clemson had two players at two-under- par for the day. Senior D.J. Trahan had rounds of 70 and 72 for a 142 total, two under par. Trahan was four under par through the first nine of the day, but was penalized two strokes for pushing the tee marker into the ground on the seventh tee. He eagled that seventh hole, but was informed he had a net par by rules officials on the 10th tee. He then double bogeyed the hole. He still managed to regain composure and shoot a 70 for the first round. He added an even par 72 in the second round.

For Trahan, he recorded his 87th and 88th rounds at par or better in his career. He needs just eight more to break John Engler’s Clemson career record of 95. Junior Gregg Jones had round of 69 and 73 on Saturday. His 69 marked the first time this year he had shot in the 60s in his first round of a tournament. His 142 total is two-under-par and stands in the top 15 individually.

Matt Hendrix had rounds of 70 and 75 on Saturday and stands at one over par 145, while freshman Brian Duncan had rounds of 75 and 74. It was the first appearance for Duncan in a Clemson stroke play event.

Clemson will attempt to gain its fourth team tournament victory of the season on Sunday. Earlier in the fall Clemson won the Topy Cup in Japan, the Carpet Classic in Dalton, GA and the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate in Birmingham, AL.