Former Tigers Qualify For US Open

June 9, 2004

Two former Clemson golfers from the 1990s will be competing in the US Open at Shinnecock Hills, June 17-20. Jonathan Byrd and Joey Maxon, teammates on Clemson’s 1998 team that finished second in the nation, will both be competing in the United States Open at Southampton, NY next week.

Byrd received an exemption to the event by virtue of his top 15 finish at the US Open last year. The 2000 Clemson graduate shot a 282 over the four days and finished tied for 15th. The top 15 finishers (including ties) are invited to return to the US Open each year. Byrd has also competed in the last two Masters Tournaments, including the 2003 event when he finished eighth, the highest finish ever by a Clemson golfer at a major.

Maxon earned his invitation by qualifying from play in Columbus, OH earlier this week. Maxon shot rounds of 68-70 for a 138 total at Brookside Golf and Country Club, and The Lakes Golf and Country Club courses, respectively. Former Wake Forest All-American and Greenville, SC native Bill Haas also qualified from that sectional as did former NC State All-American Tim Clark.

This is the second time Maxon has qualified for the US Open. He played in the 2001 event in Tulsa and shot rounds of 74-76 before missing the cut.

This will mark the fifth straight year at least one former Clemson golfer has played in the US Open. In 2000 Charles Warren and Kevin Johnson both participated at Pebble Beach, while the 2001 event saw Kevin Johnson and Maxon qualify in Tulsa. In 2002 former Clemson All-American and current PGA Tour player Lucas Glover qualified for the even held in Farmingdale, NY. As stated above, Byrd finished 15th last year at Olympia Fields, the best finish ever by a Clemson golfer at the US Open.

Seven former Clemson golfers will be in action this weekend. Byrd, Glover and Danny Ellis will be competing at the Buick Classic at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, NY. D.J. Trahan, Charles Warren, Kevin Johnson and Richard Coughlan will be competing at the Nationwide Tour’s LaSalle Bank Open in Glenview, IL.