Clemson Golf Team Still Holds Lead at Topy Cup

Sept. 4, 2002

Thanks to a career best 66 by number-five player Jack Ferguson, Clemson still holds a four-shot lad at the Top Cup US-Japan Collegiate Golf Championships. Clemson has a team total of 550 through two rounds, 26-under-par.

The Tigers hold a four-shot lead over Tohoku Fukshi, one of the top collegiate teams in Japan. The next best United States collegiate team is defending NCAA Champion Minnesota, who stands at 576 after two rounds, 26 strokes behind Clemson and in fifth place overall. The field is comprised of four United States teams and seven Japanese college teams. Fresno State stands in sixth place overall at 580, and Arizona State is seventh at 585.

For the second consecutive day all five Clemson golfers shot even par or better, the first time in school history that has happened on consecutive rounds. Ferguson, a native of Seneca, SC, fired a 33 on each nine to shoot his career best score and he stands in second place individually heading into the final day.

Matt Hendrix, who fired a career best 65 in the first round, had a 72 in the second round, but still stands at 137, good enough for fifth place. Ben Duncan had a one-under par 71 and stands at 139, to rank in a tie for eighth.

Reigning National Player of the Year D.J. Trahan shot a 69 in the second round and he is in 10th place individually with a 140 total. Gregg Jones shot a 72 in the second round and is 13th at 143.

Clemson is 26-under-par through two rounds and is challenging the school record for strokes under par for a tournament. The record is 34 under set at the 1999 San Juan Shootout. A score of 279 or better in the final round would establish a record. The Tigers had a 278 team score in the second round. The five players combined to have just seven bogeys collectively.