Martin Wins United Leasing Championship

CLEMSON, SC – Former Clemson All-American Ben Martin won a four-man playoff with a par on the first playoff hole Monday morning and won the United Leasing Championship at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, IN. It was the first professional victory for Martin, who played at Clemson from 2006-10.

Martin won on the first playoff hole when he made a par on the 18th hole. Ashley Hall scored an eight, Joe Afflunti had a five and Billy Hurley carded a five on the playoff hole.

Martin’s victory was the first of the season for a former Clemson golfer on either the PGA or Web.com tours. A former Clemson golfer has now won 24 PGA or Web.com Tour events over the last 15 years, 12 on both. A former Tiger has won at least one tournament 15 years in a row.

Martin had scores of 69-72-69-67 in scoring 277 for the 72 holes, 11-under par. He trailed by as many as four shots with six holes to play. He started Sunday’s final round with a bogey, then played the last 17 holes at six-under par, including a birdie on the par five 15th hole that put him at 11-under. He made par on the last three holes and waited in the clubhouse.

Afflunti and Hurley both made double bogeys on the 17th hole to drop into a tie at 11-under. Earlier in the day, Hall had finished at 11-under as well. Afflunti and Hurley both made par on the 18th hole, forcing a four-way playoff. With the sun setting over southern Indiana at 8:30 PM local time, officials decided to have the playoff on Monday morning. It did not take long, as Martin won on the first playoff hole.

It was not a surprise that Martin reached the victory circle this week. He finished fourth in his previous Web.com event in Raleigh, NC and ranked first on the Tour in greens in regulation entering this week.

The victory more than doubled Martin’s money total for the year. He won $108,000 on Monday, giving him $208,305 for the year, good enough for fourth on the Web.com money list. The top 25 players on the Web.com Tour earn PGA Tour cards for the 2014 season. Last year the No. 25 player on the list made $182,000.

Martin was an All-American on Clemson’s 2010 team that finished 16th in the nation. He was the runner-up at the 2009 U.S. Amateur and played in the 2010 Masters. He was a three-time first-team All-ACC selection and three-time All-ACC Academic selection. He finished third at the NCAA Regional and 10th at the NCAA National Championship in 2010.

Martin played on the PGA Tour in 2010 after finishing second at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament.