Clemson’s Stanley Named to Ben Hogan Watch List

Dec. 27, 2006

Clemson, SC–Clemson first-year freshman Kyle Stanley is one of 23 college golfers named to the 2007 Ben Hogan Award Watch List. The award is presented each year by the Colonial Country Club of Texas and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) to the top college golfer from all NCAA or NAIA divisions. It takes into account their performance in college events and amateur events over the last 12 months.

Stanley is one of just three ACC golfers on the list, joining Webb Simpson of Wake Forest and Cameron Tringale of Georgia Tech. D.J. Trahan is the only Clemson golfer in history to win the award, as he was the 2002 recipient.

Stanley has been Clemson’s top golfer so far this year with a 71.00 stroke average. He has a pair of top 10 finishes, including medalist honors at the Aloha Purdue Collegiate at Kauai, Hawaii on November 23 when he won in a playoff over Drew Weaver of Virginia Tech. He also had a top 10 finish at Isleworth and has finished in the top 20 of all four Clemson tournaments so far this year.

Stanley is currently ranked 12th in the nation in the final fall Golfweek individual rankings with a 69.25 rating, the highest ranking among Clemson golfers. He has had six rounds under par, including five rounds in the 60s among his 12 stroke play rounds so far this season.

The native of Gif Harbor, Washington won two national amateur tournaments this past summer before enrolling at Clemson. He won the Sahales Players Amateur in Sammamish, Washington , then captured the Southern Amateur in Birmingham, AL. That last victory will earn him a sport in the PGA’s Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard Championship at Bay Hill Country Club in Orlando, FL March 22-25. Stanley was named a second-team Rolex Junior All-American for his play this past summer, the third consecutive year he was named a junior All-American.

The Hogan Award selection committee will announce 10 semifinalists on April 4 and name three finalists on May 2. The three finalists will attend the Hogan Award banquet on May 22 at Colonial Country Club the Tuesday prior to the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. The recipient will be announced that evening.