Tigers Finish Third at Las Vegas

March 14, 2004

Clemson, SC – Matt Hendrix birdied his final three holes to shoot a final round 70 and lead Clemson to a third place finish at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Championship in Las Vegas on Sunday. Clemson finished with a 859 team score, five under par for the event. It was the first of two tournaments within nine days for Larry Penley’s defending National Champions, who will play at the Chris Schenkel Invitational at Statesboro, GA this coming weekend.

Arizona State, who had an incredible 276 team score in the second round on Saturday, won the event with a 16-under-par 848. Number-one ranked Florida, who has already won five tournaments this year, finished second at 850 after a 292 team score on Sunday. The Tigers shot a 288 on Sunday to finish third at 859, just four shots ahead of Georgia, who had an 863 team score.

Washington was fifth (870), while UCLA and Georgia Tech finished tied for sixth with 871 scores. Wake Forest was eight at 875, NC State was 13th at 889 and North Carolina was 15th at 894 in the 15-team field.

Hendrix had scores of 71-69-70 for his 210 total, six-under-par. Hendrix now has six consecutive rounds under par and it was his fourth top 10 finish this year in five events. Camilo Villegas was the individual champion at 205, while Bill Haas of Wake Forest was second at 206.

Jack Ferguson, who had an opening round 66, finished 11th after a final round 72. He did faulter the stretch, however as he finished with a double bogey on 17 and a bogey on 18. He had rounds of 66-74-72 for a 212 total, four-under-par.

Gregg Jones had his second even par round of the tournament and shot a 72 on Sunday. He had 16 pars, one birdie and one bogey on his Sunday round. A second round 78 kept Jones out of the top 20 in the field. He finished 32nd overall. Brian Duncan had a strong 70 in the opening round, but had a 79 in the final round and finished with a 223 for 40th position. Brent Delahoussaye had a steady tournament of 75-75-74 for a 224 total and was 44th.

Clemson at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Championship

Matt Hendrix 71 69 70 210 -6

Jack Ferguson 66 74 72 212 -4

Gregg Jones 72 78 72 222 +6

Brian Duncan 70 74 79 223 +7

Brent Delahoussaye 75 75 74 224 +8

Clemson teams 279 292 288 859 -5