Hendrix Named to United States Walker Cup Team

Aug. 9, 2003

Clemson, SC – Clemson rising senior golfer Matt Hendrix of Aiken, SC was named to the United States Walker Cup team on Saturday afternoon. Eight of the 10 team members were announced by the United States Golf Association Executive Committee. The Walker Cup matches the best amateur players from the United States against the best from Great Britain and Ireland. The event held every two years will be competed September 6-7, 2003 at Ganton Golf Club in England.

This marks the fourth consecutive Walker Cup that Clemson has had at least one competitor represented. In 1997, former Clemson All-American Richard Coughlan competed for the Great Britain and Ireland team. In 1999 current PGA Tour player Jonathan Byrd played for the United States. Two years ago former Tigers Lucas Glover and D.J.Trahan were members of the United States team. Former Clemson All-American Kevin Johnson played on the 1990 United States team in the Walker Cup.

There are still two more United States players to be chosen, selections that will take place after the United States Amateur, which will be held August 18-24 at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. Gregg Jones, another rising Clemson senior for the 2004 season will be a candidate for one of those final two spots.

Hendrix is joined on the 2003 United States team by Trip Kuehne, a 31-year-old native of Dallas who played in the 1995 Walker Cup; Oklahoma State freshman Casey Wittenberg of Memphis, TN; Bill Haas, a senior at Wake Forest and a resident of Greer, SC; Adam Rubinson, a resent graduate of TCU and a resident of Fort Worth, TX; Brock MacKenzie of Yakima, WA and the University of Washington; UNLV All-American Ryan Moore, a native of Puyallup, WA; and Chris Nallen, an All-American for the University of Arizona who is a native of New Jersey.

Ironically, Haas and Hendrix were paired together in the third round of the South Carolina Amateur at Chanticleer Country Club in Greenville on Saturday. They will be in consecutive groups on Sunday.

Hendrix was a third-team All-American for the Tigers in 2003 when he helped the Tigers to the National Championship with a 71.74 stroke average. He had six top 10 finishes in 2003, including a fourth-place finish at the NCAA East Regional. His 69 in the third round of the 2003 NCAA National Tournament was the low round by a Clemson golfer in the national tournament.

This summer, Hendrix has improved to a number-two ranking in the Golfweek/Titleist Amateur rankings, his highest ranking ever. He has earned the ranking by winning the Sunnehanna Amateur, a second-place finish at the Porter Cup, a fourth-place at the Monroe and a fifth-place at the Rice Planters.

Hendrix will now play in the United States Amateur August 18-24, giving Clemson three players in that field. Jones and sophomore Martin Catalioto have also qualified for the event that features two rounds of stroke play followed by a 64-player match play tournament. The top two finishers qualify for the 2004 Masters.