Clemson Selected for NCAA Men’s Golf Tournament for 28th Consecutive Year

May 4, 2009

Clemson, SC – Clemson was extended an invitation to the NCAA men’s golf tournament for the 28th consecutive year on Monday. It is the longest streak of consecutive years with an invitation to the NCAA Tournament in any sport in Clemson history and the second longest streak in NCAA golf history. Only Oklahoma State has a longer streak.

Clemson was selected as the number-one seed in the Galloway New Jersey Regional at Galloway National Golf Club. Regional play will begin Thursday May 14 and run through Saturday, May 16. The top five teams in the Galloway regional will advance to the NCAA National Championships May 25-30 at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, OH.

Clemson is the number-one seed followed by second seed Alabama, third seed Illinois, fourth seed Tennessee and fifth seed Wake Forest. Also in the regional are Colorado State, Kent State, Coastal Carolina, Virginia, Penn State, Minnesota, Virginia Commonweath, Columbia and Sacred Heart.

“This will be a hard golf course, the competitive course record is just 68,” said Clemson Head Coach Larry Penley. “But, I like that, I would rather have our team play on a difficult course.

“This is a good field. In addition to the teams ranked in the top 25 that are top four seeds, there are dangerous teams like Wake Forest, Colorado State, Kent State, Virginia and Penn State. It will be an outstanding regional tournament.”

Clemson has an outstanding history in NCAA Regional play. This is the 21st year of NCAA regional play and Clemson has won the regional championship seven times, more than any other school. Head Coach Larry Penley is the only Division I coach with seven regional championships. Clemson has qualified for the NCAA National tournament through the regional 18 times in the last 20 years.

Last year Clemson finished third out of 27 teams at the West Regional at Gold Mountain Country Club in Bremerton, WA before finishing fifth at the NCAA National Tournament at Purdue.

This year’s Clemson team is ranked fourth in the nation in the latest Golf World Poll and sixth in the latest Sagarin team rankings. The Tigers won their last regular season event, the United States Collegiate in Marietta, GA April 5-7. That field included the top 11 teams in the nation. Clemson finished second at the ACC Tournament two weeks later at The Old North State Club.

Clemson is led by three players who were named first-team All-ACC this year. Kyle Stanley, has a 71.58 stroke average this year and a 71.68 average for his career. That stroke average is second best in Clemson history. He has six top 10 finishes this year, including medalist honors at the Carpet Classic in September, and leads the team in rounds in the 60s with seven and under par rounds with 12.

Ben Martin has the best stroke average on the team this spring and is second overall for the year with a 72.38 figure. He was the ACC Player of the Month in February when he had a third place finish at the Puerto Rico Classic with a 10-under par score.

David May is third on the team in stroke average at 72.52, but he is coming off co-medalist honors at the ACC Tournament. May fired a 10-under par 206 score to tie Matt Hill of NC State for the ACC title. It was May’s first career victory and he is the first Clemson golfer to win the event since 2001.