Clemson’s D.J. Trahan Wins Hogan Award

May 3, 2002

Clemson, SC – Clemson junior D.J. Trahan has won the Ben Hogan Award, the honor presented to the top college golfer in the nation for his play in the college ranks and in amateur competition for the period May 1, 2001 to May 1, 2002. Trahan is the first Clemson golfer to win the award.

The announcement was made by the Golf Coaches Association of America in conjunction with The Colonial Country Club and the Friends of Golf. Trahan will be presented the award at a black tie dinner in Fort Worth, TX on Monday, May 13th. The banquet will be held at Colonial Country Club, the site of the PGA Tour’s Colonial Invitational. The presentation to Trahan will be shown on CBS Sports’ coverage of the tournament on Sunday, May 19.

Trahan has had an outstanding career at Clemson, as he was named a Freshman All-American and ACC Freshman of the Year in 2000 and won the United States Public Links Championship. In the spring of 2001 he finished seventh at the NCAA tournament, Clemson’s top performer, helping the Tigers to second place in the event. Last summer, he won the South Carolina Amateur, defeating three-time defending champion and Clemson teammate Lucas Glover, and he competed for the United States in the Walker Cup. He also finished third at the Porter Cup and eighth at the Rice Planters and reached the second round of match play at the US Amateur.

Trahan had the top fall in Clemson golf history in 2001, as he won two tournaments (Carpet Classic and Jerry Pate) and had three second-place finishes. He did that in five consecutive events, the first time in Clemson history any golfer had ever had five straight first or second place finishes.

Although he won two events, his most memorable feat took place at the Ping Preview at Ohio State, where he finished second individually. With Clemson needing a birdie to win the event on the final hole, Trahan promptly drove the ball 370 yards to a bunker near the green. He blasted out to within 15 feet to set up a birdie attempt. He held the putt to give Clemson the team championship at the site of this year’s NCAA Tournament. This spring he won the Azalea Amateur and has led the Tigers to a #2 national team ranking in the Precept Coach’s poll.

For the academic year, Trahan has already tied the Clemson single season record with eight top 10 finishes. His 70.36 stroke average is ahead of the previous record pace and he is also ranked number-one in Clemson history in career stroke average heading into NCAA play with a 71.76 average. He has had 22 rounds under par so far this year, one off the Clemson single season record, and his 13 rounds in the 60s are just two rounds off Chris Patton’s single season record of 15.

Nationally, Trahan is ranked first in the Amateur Rankings by Golfweek and he is third in the NCAA according to Golfstat and Sagarin/Golfweek. He also leads the nation in scoring on par four holes (3.93), is second in greens in regulation (.789), and fifth in birdies (137).

In addition to all of the accomplishments on the course, Trahan carries a 3.22 GPA and is an academic All-America candidate. He has made the ACC Academic Honor Roll each of his first two years at Clemson.