Hendrix Qualifies for PGA Tour

Dec. 4, 2006

Clemson, SC – Matt Hendrix made a 15-foot par putt on the 108th and final hole of PGA Tour Qualifying to make the cut by one shot and become a member of the 2007 PGA Tour. The native of Aiken, SC and 2004 Clemson graduate will be one of five former Clemson golfers on tour in 2007. He will be the second member of Clemson’s 2003 National Championship team to make the PGA Tour, joining D.J. Trahan.

Hendrix had a final round 75 to finish at eight-under-par 424 for the grueling six round event at two courses in La Quinta, CA. He had rounds of 71-70-67-74-67-75 over the two courses. He finished tied for 29th overall. The top 30 players plus ties make the PGA Tour field for the following year.

Hendrix made the cut in dramatic fashion. He stepped to the par three 17th at nine under-par and one shot above the cutline. But, he hit his drive to the island green short of land and into the water. He then got up and down from the drop area to make a bogey.

On the 18th hole he hit his second shot into a bunker to the right of the green. His third shot nearly went into the hole on the fly, but then bounced 15 feet past the hole. Hendrix then drained the down hill 15-footer for par, clinching his PGA Tour card.

Hendrix finished the tournament with 27 birdies and 14 bogeys, plus a pair of double bogeys, one of which took place on the third hole on Monday.

“I am still shaking,” said Hendrix when interviewed by the golf channel after the round. “I wanted a little cushion when I came to the last two holes because I knew they would be difficult. But, I made it a challenge and I had to put everything I had into that last putt. Fortunately it went in. I learned a lot this week. I learned how tough this tournament is and I learned that you have to stay focused and just don’t give up.”

Hendrix, who married his wife Melanie this past January, completed his rookie year on the Nationwide Tour in 2006. He made 23 of 28 cuts and earned $86,164, good enough for 68th on the Nationwide money list. His best finish was a seventh place in Knoxville. He was sixth on the Nationwide tour in total birdies in 2006 with 376.

Hendrix was a two-time All-American at Clemson, including the 2003 season when he teamed with current PGA Tour player D.J. Trahan to help the Tigers to the national championship at Stillwater, OK. He was one of five finalists for the Hogan Award as a senior in 2004. He won two tournaments as a senior, the Puerto Rico Classic and the Augusta State Invitational.

Hendrix will join four former Tigers on tour next year. Lucas Glover, Jonathan Byrd, Charles Warren and Trahan all won over $1,000,000 on the PGA Tour in 2006 and are automatically qualified for the 2007 season. Clemson was one of four schools with four former players on the 2006 tour who earned over $1,000,000 last year. The others were Florida, Oklahoma State and UNLV.