Stanley Ranked Fourth in World Amateur Rankings

Nov. 5, 2008

Clemson, SC – Clemson junior Kyle Stanley ranks fourth in the world and second among United States golfers according to the Golfweek Amateur Rankings of November 4, 2008.

Stanley had another outstanding year at Clemson and on the summer amateur circuit. The highlight of his year might have been his qualification for the 2008 United States Open, which did not gain him any points in this amateur ranking, but it was quite an accomplishment.

From an amateur standpoint, his top accomplishment took place in Orlando, FL when he won the Southern Amateur Championship with a 45-foot putt on the first playoff hole. He had rounds of 70-71-67-66 to win the event. He had a 14-under par score of 274 for the 72 holes in regulation. That win qualified him for the PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2009. Stanley also finished in a tie for fifth at the North-South Amateur, and was fifth during stroke play at the Western Amateur. He also won the Carpet Classic in Dalton, GA while competing for Clemson in September.

Three other Clemson golfers are ranked in the top 100 of the United States Amateur rankings by Golfweek. Phillip Mollica is ranked 40th among United States players and 92nd in the world. Mollica won the Monroe Amateur this past summer, the second time he has won the event in three years. He is the only two-time winner of that event.

Sam Saunders is 42nd among United States players and 104th in the world according to the rankings. Saunders had a consistent summer in which he finished in the top 15 in five different events. He was sixth at The Cardinal Amateur and eighth at The Players Amateur in addition to winning his US Amateur qualifier by 14 shots at Haines City, FL. Ben Martin is ranked 76th among United States amateurs. The native of Greenwood, SC finished sixth at the Palmetto Amateur this past summer.