Three Tigers Compete in US Amateur

Aug. 21, 2005

Clemson, SC – Stephen Poole, Jack Ferguson and Tanner Ervin, three members of Clemson’s 2005 golf team, will compete in the US Amateur on Monday. The event is composed of 36 holes of stroke play followed by match play for the top 64 stroke play qualifiers.

The US Amateur will take part at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA, the same course that saw Chris Patton, a former Clemson player, win the 1989 US Amateur, the only time a Clemson golfer has won the event.

Ferguson, who has completed his eligibility and will turn professional after this event, made the field when he finished second at the sectional tournament held at Stonebridge Golf Club in Monroe, NC in July. Ferguson finished with a 36-hole, two-day total of 135, tying him with Robert Riesen of Pinehurst, NC. Webb Simpson of Raleigh, NC won the sectional with a 131 total.

Poole, Clemson’s top golfer at the 2005 NCAA Regional in Nashville, TN in May, was the top qualifier out of the sectional held at Woodside Plantation in Aiken, SC in July. Poole had a 133 total for the 36 holes, including a 62 in the first round. Tanner Ervin, who will be a sophomore on the 2006 Clemson team, had a 139 total at the same course and finished fifth.

The stroke play event will be held at Merion and at the Philadelphia Country Club. Ervin (8:10 AM) and Ferguson ( 12:52 PM) will play at Philadelphia Country Club on Monday, while Poole has an 8:21 tee time at Merion. On Tuesday, Ervin tees off at 1:25 at Merion, while Ferguson has a 7:37 tee time. Poole will start his second round on Tuesday at Philadelphia Country Club at 1:36 PM.

U.S. Amateur Championship Facts

PAR AND YARDAGE – Merion Golf Club will play at 6,846 yards and par 34-36–70. The Philadelphia Country Club course, which will be used for the first two days of stroke play, will play at 6,967 yards and par 35-35- 70.

MERION GOLF CLUB – Hugh Wilson designed the championship course at Merion Golf Club (East Course), which opened in 1912. William Flynn and Howard Toomey designed Philadelphia Country Club (Spring/Mill Course), which opened in 1927. Interesting, Wilson and Flynn were good friends, with Flynn being the first superintendent at Merion.

TICKETS AVAILABLE – Tickets can be purchased by calling the U.S. Amateur office at (484) 708-1050. Daily tickets are $15 and $60 for a weekly pass. More extensive ticket options are also available. Children 17 and under are admitted free if accompanied by a paying adult.

TELEVISION COVERAGE – The U.S. Amateur will have 10 hours of live national coverage on The Golf Channel and NBC over the last five days of the championship.

The Golf Channel

First Round Matches – Wed. (Aug. 24), 4-6 p.m. (EDT)

Third Round Matches – Thurs. (Aug. 25), 4-6 p.m. (EDT)

Quarterfinal Matches – Fri. (Aug. 26), 4-6 p.m. (EDT)

NBC Semifinal Matches – Sat. (Aug. 27), 4-6 p.m. (EDT)

Championship Match – Sun. (Aug. 28), 4-6 p.m. (EDT)