Clemson Opens NCAA Tournament Play on Thursday

May 14, 2008

Clemson, SC – Clemson opens play at the NCAA Men’s Golf Tournament on Thursday at the West Regional at Bremerton, Washington. The 54-hole event will be played at the par 72 Gold Mountain Course that is 7,111 yards long. Clemson is one of 27 teams competing in the West Regional. The top 10 teams at the West Regional will advance to the NCAA National Championship at Purdue University, May 28-31.

This is Clemson’s first appearance at the NCAA West Regional, but its 20th straight regional tournament overall. Clemson has been to the East Regional 18 times and the Central Regional once since the regional format began in 1989. Clemson has won seven regional tournaments in his history, most in the nation, and all under current Head Coach Larry Penley. This is Clemson’s 27th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance overall, 25 in a row under Penley.

Clemson will begin play on Thursday at 2:48 PM Eastern time when Sam Saunders tees off for the Tigers. Clemson will play with Stanford and UNLV over the first two days and 36 holes.

In addition to Sam Saunders, Coach Penley will have a lineup consisting of sophomore Kyle Stanley, sophomore Ben Martin, junior Phillip Mollica and junior David May. Stanley has the top stroke average on the team with a 72.14 figure, while Saunders is second at 73.11. All five of Clemson’s players have stroke averages between 72.14 and 73.45.

Clemson was ranked 15th in the final Golf World Coaches Poll released on Wednesday.

Final Golf World Coaches Poll 2007-08 1. Alabama (20) – 548 2. Georgia (1) – 511 Southern California (1) – 511 4. UCLA – 479 5. Oklahoma State – 457 6. Charlotte – 439 7. Florida State – 402 8. Florida – 394 9. Georgia Tech – 366 10. Stanford – 348 11. South Carolina – 328 12. Tennessee – 287 13. Duke – 265 14. Chattanooga – 24415. Clemson – 203 16. Auburn – 188 17. UNLV – 179 18. Arizona State – 169 19. Texas A&M – 139 20. Michigan State – 131 21. East Tennessee State – 117 22. Wake Forest – 77 23. Indiana – 68 24. North Carolina – 52 25. Central Florida – 44