Golf Finishes Second at E-Z-GO Schenkel Invitational

March 23, 2003

Statesboro, GA-Four Clemson golfers recorded under-par tournament scores, but it was not enough for a tournament championship, as the Tigers finished second to Wake Forest at the Schenkel E-Z-GO Invitational at Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro, GA. The number-one ranked Tigers finished with a 17-under par team score of 847, second to the Demon Deacons total of 844. It marked the eighth time in nine tournaments that Clemson has finished first or second this year.

Clemson had its best round of the tournament on Sunday with a 280 team score, but it was five shots worse than Wake Forest’s 275 score, the best team round of the tournament by any squad. Clemson finished seven shots better than Georgia, who charged to third place with a 278 score on Sunday and an 854 total for the event.

Florida was fourth at 858, while Auburn was fifth at 860. NC State was one of six teams in the field to shoot under par for the tournament and finished sixth at 861. South Carolina was seventh at 869, while North Carolina was eighth at 872. Second-ranked Augusta State finished 10th with an 877 team score. Duke was the only other ACC team in the 15-team field and finished 14th at 887.

Wake Forest won the tournament thanks to four birdies on the 18th hole. That total included a pair of chip-ins. Brent Wanner was one of the Wake Forest players who scored a birdie on the final hole and he won medallist honors with a 207 score. He shot a 75 in the opening round, but finished with rounds of 67 and 65 to win by three shots.

Jack Ferguson and D.J. Trahan led Clemson at the event with identical scores of 210, six-under par. They were two of the four players who tied for second at 210. Ferguson shot a 71 on Sunday after firing a 67 in the second round, Clemson’s low individual round of the tournament.

Trahan had a Clemson team best 68 on Sunday to finish with his 210 score. It was the fourth straight year the senior had an under-par tournament at the Schenkel. He was three-under-par on the front and one-under on the back. His two under par rounds and one at par give him 89 rounds at par or better for his career, second on the Clemson all-time list behind John Engler (95).

Matt Hendrix shot a 69 on Sunday and finished 12th at the event with a 214 score. He finished with birdies on 16, 17 and 18 to bring Clemson into contention. He had rounds of 70-75-69 in recording his two-under-par tournament.

Gregg Jones had a 73 on Sunday, but finished with a one-under-par 215 total and a 17th place finish. It marked just the second time this year that four Tigers shot under par and finished in the top 20 of the field in the same tournament.

Freshman Brian Duncan had a 72 on Sunday and his score counted towards Clemson’s team figure for the second straight round. The native of Greenville was playing in his first stroke play tournament as a Clemson golfer. His 221 total was good enough for 45th in the 75-player field.

Clemson at Schenkel E-Z-GO InvitationalMarch 22-23, Forest Heights Country ClubPar 72   6962 YardsD.J. Trahan             70      72      68      210     -6      2ndJack Ferguson           72      67      71      210     -6      2ndMatt Hendrix            70      75      69      214     -2      12thGregg Jones             69      73      73      215     -1      17thBrian Duncan            75      74      72      221     +5      45thTeam                    281     286     280     847     -17     2nd