Four Tigers Advance Through Local Qualifying

May 20, 2008

Clemson, SC – Four current Clemson golfers have advanced to sectional qualifying for the 2008 United States Open. Clemson teammates Ben Martin and Phillip Mollica qualified through the local qualifying site at Cross Creek Plantation in Seneca on Monday, while Sam Saunders qualified on May 12 at a local qualifying site in Orlando, FL. Sophomore Kyle Stanley automatically qualified for the sectional stage by virtue of his selection to the 2007 United States Walker Cup team.

Martin shot a 69 on Monday at Cross Creek Plantation to finish second behind Michael Sim of Australia. Mollica was involved in a five-person playoff for two spots after shooting a 71. Mollica was one of the two players to advance after the seven hole playoff. Teammate David May and former Tiger Stephen Poole were also involved in that playoff, but did not advance.

Saunders had a 67 at Metrowest Country Club in Orlando on May 12. He had the second best score at that site.

Saunders, Mollica and Stanley will all compete at the US Open Sectional Qualifying Tournament at The Scarlet Course at The Ohio State University on Monday, June 2. Martin will compete in a Sectional Tournament in Atlanta. The US Open will be played at Torrey Pines Golf Club in San Diego, CA, June 12-15.

All four golfers will compete for the Tigers in the 2008 NCAA National Tournament at Purdue University May 28-31.