Clemson Signs Two in Men’s Golf

Nov. 16, 2005

Kyle Stanley and Sam Saunders, two of the top 11 junior players according to the Golfweek/Titleist World rankings, have each signed a national letter of intent with the Clemson men’s golf program. Head Coach Larry Penley made the announcement on Wednesday. The two student-athletes entering Clemson in August of 2006 will give Clemson seven freshmen and sophomores on the 2006-07 roster.

“This might be the best pair of incoming freshmen we have ever had,” said Penley, who has been Clemson’s head coach since 1983. “Kyle and Sam are two nationally prominent signees who have the ability to bring us back to the level where we are in the national championship hunt on a consistent basis.”

Stanley is the first native of the state of Washington to sign a golf letter of intent with the Clemson program. He was a first-team American Junior Golf Association All-American in 2005 when he played on the 2005 Cannon Cup West team. He was an honorable mention AJGA selection in 2004. He is ranked seventh in the world junior rankings by Golfweek/Titleist.

Now a resident of Gig Harbor, WA, Stanley won the 2005 MCI Junior Heritage and the HP Boys championship. He finished second at the AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions and was second at AJGA Pacific Northwest International Junior tournament.

Stanley is in his fourth year as a starter on the Bellarmine Prep High School team. He helped his team to the state championship in 2004 and he finished second in the state tournament individually that year.

Saunders was the Florida State champion in 2004 and he finished second in 2005. He won the regional championship as a freshman, junior and senior. He helped his Trinity Prep team to four District titles and three regional championships during his career. He was a four-time first-team all-state selection in the state of Florida, including 2004 when he was named the Florida Player of the Year. Saunders is currently ranked 11th in the world Golfweek/Titleist rankings.

Saunders was a member of the United States team that competed in the Spirit International Amateur Championship in Trinity, TX in October, 2005. He also was the medallist during stroke play of the United States Junior Amateur at Longmeadow, MA when he shot a 133 for the first two rounds. He then advanced to the second round of match play.

A native of Orlando, FL, Saunders is the grandson of four-time Masters champion Arnold Palmer.