Clemson Golf Announces 2003-04 Schedule

Aug. 4, 2003

Clemson, SC – Clemson released its 2003-04 golf schedule on Monday and it is highlighted by trips to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Puerto Rico. Larry Penley’s squad will compete in five events in the fall, and six regular season events in the spring before competing in the NCAA Championships. Each of the tournaments will boast top-notch competition for the defending National Champions.

The Tigers will begin defense of their National Championship in September at the Ridges Invitational in Johnson City, TN. Clemson won that event in the fall of 1998 behind Jonathan Byrd, now on the PGA Tour. The Tigers will also compete in the Ping Preview in September, an event which will be held at the Cascades Course in Hot Springs, VA. The Cascades Course will also play host to the NCAA National Tournament in June. It has never been the host site for the NCAA National and is not the home course for any collegiate team.

Clemson will compete in two traditional events in October, the Carpet Classic (Dalton, GA) and the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate (Birmingham, AL). Clemson is a four-time winner of the Carpet Classic, which is set to be held October 3-5. The Jerry Pate, which Clemson has won five times in the last six years, will be held October 13-14. The fall schedule concludes November 7-9 with the Hooters Match Play at Barefoot Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Clemson kicks off the spring slate February 8-10 at the Mercedes Benz Collegiate, an event held at the famous Sawgrass course in Ponte Vedra, FL. The Tigers then travel to the Puerto Rico Classic in late February.

The Tigers will compete in three tournaments in March, all three of which Clemson played in last season. Larry Penley’s team will first compete in the Las Vegas Intercollegiate, and then in the Schenkel Invitational in Statesboro, GA before wrapping up the long month in the Atlanta Intercollegiate.

Clemson is in the field at the Augusta State Invitational in April before turning its attention to postseason play. The ACC Tournament will once again be held at the Old North State Club in Uwharrie Point, NC, the site of Clemson’s come-from-behind victory one year ago. That event will be held April 16-18.

The season concludes with the NCAA Championships in May and June. The NCAA Regional sites have yet to be determined, while the NCAA National will be held in Hot Springs, VA from June 1-4. Clemson Head Coach Larry Penley has guided the Tigers to the NC-AA Tournament for 20 consecutive years and brought the title to Clemson in 2002-03.

The outlook for Clemson’s 2003-04 season is strong as three All-Americans return from last year’s team. The group is led by seniors Matt Hendrix and Gregg Jones and junior Jack Ferguson. Clemson also returns three players who red-shirted last year in Martin Catalioto, Brent Delahoussaye and Nick Biershenk, and 2003 letterman Brian Duncan.

Clemson Golf Schedule 2003-04 (Tentative)

Date Tournament Course City

Sept. 13-14 The Ridges Invitational The Ridges Johnson City, TN

Sept. 22-23 Ping/Golfweek Preview Cascades Course Hot Springs, VA

Oct. 3-5 Carpet Classic The Farm Dalton, GA

Oct. 13-14 Jerry Pate Intercollegiate Old Overton Birmingham, AL

Nov. 7-9 Hooters Match Play Barefoot Resort Myrtle Beach, SC

Feb. 8-10 Mercedes Benz Collegiate Sawgrass Ponte Vedra, FL

Feb. 22-24 Puerto Rico Classic Rio Mar El Grande, PR

Mar. 13-15 Las Vegas Intercollegiate Desert Inn Las Vegas, NV

Mar. 20-21 Chris Schenkel Invitational Forest Heights Statesboro, GA

Mar. 29-30 Atlanta Intercollegiate Eagles Landing McDonough, GA