Three Tiger Golfers Advance in Q School

Nov. 23, 2003

Clemson, SC – Former Clemson golfers D.J. Trahan, Richard Coughlan and Danny Ellis all advanced to the final state of PGA Tour Qualifying over the weekend. All three golfers competed at the second stage qualifying held at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, FL. The final stage will be held in Winter Garden, FL December 3-8.

Trahan and Coughlan both tied for sixth with scores of 276, 12-under par. The top 20 players at the site advanced. Trahan had rounds of 71-65-70-70, while Coughlan had scores of 68-71-68-69. It was quite a week for Trahan, who was at the White House on Monday to meet President George Bush with Clemson’s 2003 National Championship Golf Team.

Coughlan played with the Tigers from 1994-97 and was the ACC Co-Player of the Year his senior season. He has played on the PGA Tour previously, including 1998, his first year out of school.

Ellis, who was on tour last year, had a 278 score with individual rounds of 71-66-69-72, good enough for 14th place. He was an All-American with the Tigers between 1989-93. Former Clemson All-American Kevin Johnson was also at the Second Stage at St. Augustine, FL, but did not advance after shooting 286 for his four rounds. He was 43rd.

Two other Tigers were trying to advance from other sites, but failed. Ben Duncan, a starter on Clemson’s National Championship team last year, shot a 306 for his four rounds in Kingwood, TX. Former Clemson All-American Chris Patton finished 31st, just three shots short of qualifying at the second stage held at Black Horse Course in Seaside, CA.

Clemson already has two former Tigers on the PGA Tour for 2004. Jonathan Byrd has already qualified by virtue of his #47 finish on the PGA Tour Money List in 2003, and Lucas Glover qualified through his #17 finish on the Nationwide Money List in 2003.