Golf Finishes Ninth at Puerto Rico Classic

March 1, 2005

Brent Delahoussaye was the only Clemson golfer to shoot even par on Tuesday, leading Clemson to a ninth-place finish at the Puerto Rico Classic. Clemson shot a 873 score for the three-day tournament, nine-over par. The event was played at the par 72, 6945-yard Westin Rio Mar River Course in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

Clemson had a 280 team score in the first round and ranked third, just two shots out of first place. But the Tigers finished with rounds of 298 and 295 over the last 36 holes.

Delahoussaye finished 21st at the tournament individually with a 217 score after consistent rounds of 72-73-72. It was his low 54-hole score on a par 72 course this year and the first time he has been Clemson’s top player at a tournament since last year’s NCAA East Regional when he finished fourth.

Jack Ferguson shot a 74 on Tuesday and finished a stroke back and in 26th position. The senior from Seneca, SC had rounds of 69-75-74 in recording the two-over-par score.

Stephen Poole, a junior from Spartanburg, also had a 74 on Tuesday and finished in 35th position at 221. Poole was Clemson’s top golfer on Monday with a second round 72 and finished the three rounds with scores of 75-72-74.

Martin Catalioto had a 68 in the first round, his best round as a Clemson golfer and the fourth best individual round of any player in the opening round. He also finished at 221 after a final round 75 and was also 35th.

Brian Duncan, Clemson’s stroke average leader entering the spring season, had a 76 on Tuesday and finished at 228, 65th in the individual race in the event.

Clemson was one of eight top 25 teams in the strong national field of 18 teams. Georgia Tech, ranked third in the nation entering the event, shot an 845 for the 54 holes and defeated 18th ranked Florida by four shots. Oklahoma State, ranked first in the nation entering the tournament, was third at the Puerto Rico Classic with an 850 total, 14-under par. Arizona State was fourth with an 857 score and Georgia, ranked second in the nation, shot an 865 for fifth place.

Duke was seventh at 869, NC State was 13th at 892 and Virginia Tech 15th at 903 among the other ACC schools in the tournament.

Clemson will next be in action in 10 days when the Tigers play in the LasVegas Invitational at Desert Inn Country Club in Las Vegas, NV. That will be a three-day 54-hole event that will begin on March 11.

Clemson at Puerto Rico Classic

Brent Delahoussaye              72      73      72      217     +1      21stJack Ferguson                   69      75      74      218     +2      26thStephen Poole                   75      72      74      221     +5      35thMartin Catalioto                68      78      75      221     +5      35thBrian Duncan                    71      81      76      228     +12     65thClemson Team                    280     298     295     873     +9      9th