Clemson Has Five Players in US Open

June 13, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Five former Clemson golfers will play in the 2011 US Open this week at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD. That total ties for the most in the nation with Oklahoma State and UNLV.

The Clemson contingent is led by veterans Jonathan Byrd and Lucas Glover. Byrd qualified by winning two PGA Tournament events within the last year, while Glover qualified by virtue of his 2009 US Open victory. Sam Saunders, David May and Elliot Gealy all gained entry into the field through qualifying tournaments.

UNLV’s five players in the field include Chad Campbell, Andres Gonzales, Charley Hoffman, Ryan Moore and Adam Scott, while Oklahoma State’s group includes Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Alexander Noren, Peter Uihlein and Bo Van Pelt.

Georgia Tech is next with four players, including Briny Baird, Michael Barbosa, Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar. Baird began his college career at Georgia Tech before he transferred to Valdosta State. Arizona State, Florida, Georgia and Illinois have three apiece. Overall, 19 schools have at least two former or current players in the field. Ninety-four of the 155 players in the field, as of the morning of June 13, attended college in the United States. (One more player will be added to the field on Monday).

All five Clemson players are 35 years of age of younger, including Saunders, who is just 23. Clemson is the only school in the nation with five players in the field who are 35 years or less. Saunders is the grandson of Arnold Palmer, who won the 1960 US Open in Denver.

The ACC has the most former players in the field with 17. The 17 players are from seven different schools, as Clemson (5), Duke (2), Georgia Tech (4), Maryland (1), North Carolina (2), NC State (1) and Wake Forest (2) all have at least one player. The Pac 10 is second with 14 players, while the SEC and the Big 12 have 11 apiece.

Play in the 2011 US Open begins Thursday morning.

Most Players in US Open by SchoolClemson (5) – Jonathan Byrd, Elliot Gealy, Lucas Glover, Sam Saunders UNLV (5) – Chad Campbell, Andres Gonzales, Charley Hoffman, Ryan Moore, Adam Scott Oklahoma State (5) – Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Alexander Noren, Peter Uihlein, Bo Van Pelt Georgia Tech (4) – Briny Baird, Michael Barbosa, Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar Arizona State (4) – Paul Casey, Phil Mickelson, Scott Pinckney, Chez Reavie Florida (3) – Bubba Dickerson, Brian Gay, Camillo Villegas Georgia (3) – Christo Greyling, Russell Henley, Bubba Watson Illinois (3) – Christopher DeForest, D.A. Points, Steve Stricker Arizona (2) – Jim Furyk, Rory Sabbatini UCLA (3) – Patrick Cantlay, Kevin Chappell, Brandt Jobe Coastal Carolina (2) – Zack Byrd, Dustin Johnson Duke (2) – Adam Long, Kevin Streelman North Carolina (2) – Davis Love, Mark Wilson Northwestern (2) – Luke Donald, Chris Wilson Oklahoma (2) – Todd Hamilton, Anthony Kim Oregon (2) – Ben Crane, John Ellis UAB (2) – Graeme McDowell Will Wilcox Wake Forest (2) – Bill Haas, Webb Simpson Washington (2) – Cheng-Tsung Pan, Chris WilliamsNote: Baird played for Georgia Tech and Valdosta State

Alphabetical Listing Players by School, 2011 US Open Alabama (1) – Bud Cauley Auburn (1) – Jason Dufner Arizona (2) – Jim Furyk, Rory Sabbatini Arizona State (4) – Paul Casey, Phil Mickelson, Scott Pinckney, Chez ReavieClemson (5) – Jonathan Byrd, Elliot Gealy, Lucas Glover, Sam Saunders Coastal Carolina (2) – Zack Byrd, Dustin Johnson Colorado (1) – Steve Irwin Colorado State (1) – Martin Laird Drake (1) – Zach Johnson Duke (2) – Adam Long, Kevin Streelman Florida (3) – Bubba Dickerson, Brian Gay, Camillo Villegas Florida Gulf Coast (1) – Joey Lamicelle Fresno State (1) – Nick Watney Georgia (3) – Christo Greyling, Russell Henley, Bubba Watson Georgia Tech (4) – Briny Baird, Michael Barbosa, Stewart Cink, Matt Kuchar Goldey-Beacon College (1) – Michael Tobiason Hartford (1) – Tim Petrovic Illinois (3) – Christopher DeForest, D.A. Points, Steve Stricker Illinois Wesleyan (1) – Bennett Blackman Indiana (1) – Jeff Overton Kansas (1) – Gary Woodland Kent State (1) – Jon Mills Louisiana Lafayette (1) – Michael Smith Louisville (1) – Adam Hadwin Loyola Marymount (1) – Brian Locke LSU (1) – David Toms Maryland (1) – Fred Funk Memphis (1) – Brad Benjamin Miami (OH) (1) – Brad Adamonis Michigan (1) – Justin Hicks Middle Tennessee State (1) – Brett Patterson Mississippi State (1) – Alexandre Rocha Nevada (1) – Kirk Triplett New Mexico State (1) – Mathew Edwards North Carolina (2) – Davis Love, Mark Wilson NC State(1) – Marcell Turnesa Northwestern (2) – Luke Donald, Chris Wilson Oklahoma (2) – Todd Hamilton, Anthony Kim Oklahoma State (5) – Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Alexander Noren, Peter Uihlein, Bo Van Pelt Oregon (2) – Ben Crane, John Ellis Pepperdine (1) – Michael Putnam Portland (1) – Ryan Nelson Rice (1) – Michael Whitehead San Diego State (1) – Scott Piercy Scottsdale Community College (1) – Robert Garrigos South Alabama (1) – Heath Slocum Stanford (1) – David Chung TCU (1) – J.J. Henry Temple (1) – Geoffrey Sisk Tennessee State (1) – Robert Dinwiddie Texas (1) – Harrison Frazar Texas A&M (1) – Ryan Palmer Texas-San Antonio (1) – John Edfors UAB (2) – Graeme McDowell Will Wilcox UCLA (3) – Patrick Cantlay, Kevin Chappell, Brandt Jobe UNLV (5) – Chad Campbell, Andres Gonzales, Charley Hoffman, Ryan Moore, Adam Scott Wake Forest (2) – Bill Haas, Webb Simpson Washington (2) – Cheng-Tsung Pan, Chris Williams Wright State (1) – Jesse Hutchis Valdosta State (1) – Briny Baird Vanderbilt (1) – Brandt Snedecker