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Golf Team Wins Topy Cup

Golf Team Wins Topy Cup

Sept. 5, 2002

Senior All-American and 2002 National Player of the Year D.J.Trahan shot a six-under-par 66 to tie his career best round as a collegian and led Clemson to the championship of the Topy Cup United States-Japan Intercollegiate Golf Championships in Japan. It was the 49th career tournament victory for Clemson Head Coach Larry Penley, his first triumph at the Topy Cup in three tries.

Clemson shot an 830 team total for the event, 34-under-par. The tournament performance tied the school record for strokes under par in a tournament. Clemson was also 34 under in winning the Puerto Rico Classic in 1999. It was the second best total score for a 54-hole event in Clemson history, trailing only the 825 turned in by the team at the 2001 Jerry Pate Intercollegiate, an event held on a par 71 course.

Trahan had nine-hole scores of 33-33 and finished the event with a 206 score to finish in a tie for fourth. It was the third lowest 54-hole total of Trahan’s career. With his three under-par rounds, he now has 58 for his career, trailing only John Engler, Lucas Glover and Jonathan Byrd, players who are all playing professionally.

Trahan was not the highest finisher among Clemson golfers as sophomore Jack Ferguson shot a career best 204 for the 54 holes after a final round 70. Earlier, Ferguson fired rounds of 68 and 66. The 204 total tied for sixth best in Clemson history for a 54-hole event, best ever for a Tiger who entered a tournament as Clemson’s number-five player.

Matt Hendrix had a final round 70 and finished tied for sixth. His first round 65 set the tempo for the Tigers, who had to count just one round over par for the entire tournament. Hendrix 65 had a career best sixth-place finish and it was his first career top 10. Ben Duncan finished fourth among Clemson golfers, but was 13th overall. His tournament included rounds of 68, 71 and 75. The 68 in the first round tied his career best score, meaning four of the five Clemson golfers tied their career best round during the event.

Gregg Jones, a second-team All-American last year as a sophomore, had a 74 in the final round and finished with a 217 total, one-over-par, good enough for 22nd place.

Clemson won the team competition by three strokes over Japanese college power Tohoku Fukushi, who had a 31-under-par 833 score. Minnesota was the next best NCAA team and finished fifth as a team with an 861 score, 31 shots worse than Clemson. It was the first college tournament for the Gophers since winning the NCAA Championships at Ohio State last spring. Fresno State was sixth at 874 and Arizona State was seventh at 878.

Clemson Summary at 2002 Topy Cup Jack Ferguson 68 66 -70 204 -12 3rd D.J. Trahan 71 69 66 206 -10 4th Matt Hendrix 65 72 70 207 -9 6th Ben Duncan 68 71 75 214 -2 13th Gregg Jones 71 72 74 217 +1 22nd Clemson 272 278 280 830 -34 First

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