Three Tigers Ranked in Top 100 of Final Sagarin Rankings

July 11, 2008

Clemson sophomores Kyle Stanley, Sam Saunders and Ben Martin all finished in the top 100 of the Sagarin national collegiate computer rankings for 2007-08. It marked the first time since the 2002-03 academic year that Clemson had three of the top 100 college golfers, the first time since the 1998-99 season that three Tigers sophomore or younger in eligibility made the top 100.

Stanley was the highest ranked Clemson golfer with a 34th place finish according to Sagarin’s computer. He had a 70.87 rating for the year and a team best 72.44 stroke average. Saunders finished 81st in the nation according to Sagarin with a 71.59 rating and a 73.42 stroke average. Martin, a red-shirt sophomore, finished 91st with a 71.66 stroke average and a 73.57 stroke average.

The last time Clemson had at least three golfers in the final top 100 was 2003 when Clemson actually had four of the top 41 and three of the top 10 golfers in the nation. D.J. Trahan, Jack Ferguson and Matt Hendrix all finished in the top 10 that year and Gregg Jones was 41st. That was Clemson’s national championship team.

The 1998-99 Clemson team had four top 100 players, led by junior Jonathan Byrd. Sophomores John Engler (9th), Lucas Glover (14th) and freshman Michael Hoey (53rd) were all underclassmen and finished in the top 100.