Clemson Returns to Oklahoma State for Ping Preview

Sept. 23, 2010

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson returns to the scene of its 2003 National Championship September 26-28 when it will compete in the Ping/Golfweek Preview at Karsten Creek in Stillwater, OK. The Tigers won over a field of 30 teams that year to capture the highest team accomplishment in the program’s history.

This year’s Preview will feature 15 of the top teams in the nation. In addition to Clemson the field includes Augusta State, Arizona State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, TCU, UCLA, UNLV, Southern California and Virginia.

The tournament will run over three days with each of the 15 teams playing 18 holes per day on the par 72 course that is 7,407 yards in length. The course will also be the site of the NCAA Championships next May 31 through June 5.

Clemson has won the Preview twice, 1990 and 2001. Nicky Goetze is the only Tiger to win medalist honors and he did it twice (1990 and 1992). His victory in 1990 was especially dramatic as he made an eagle two on the par four 17th hole to beat Phil Mickelson of Arizona State by a shot.

This year’s Tiger team is coming off a solid third-place performance at the Carpet Classic two weeks ago. Clemson shot a two under par score of 862 at The Farm. Jacob Burger led the Tigers with a 212 score over the three rounds, good enough for fifth place in the field of 60 golfers. That performance included a second round 65 that was the best round of the day and his career best score by three shots.

McCuen Elmore returns to the Clemson lineup this week after finishing 11th at the Carpet Classic. Elmore was the only Tiger to have two under-par rounds at The Farm after rounds of 70-75-70. David Dannelly, playing in his first event as a Clemson golfer, had a 217 score in the first event, including an opening round 67 that included nine birdies.

Sophomores Crawford Reeves and Corbin Mills round out the Clemson lineup for the Preview. Reeves had consistent rounds of 74-72-74 at the Carpet Classic. It will be the first tournament of the year for Mills, who was a starter on last year’s Clemson team that finished 16th in the nation.