Tigers Win Ping/Golfweek Preview

Sept. 30, 2001

Columbus, OH – D.J. Trahan did his best Woodrow Dantzler impersonation on Sunday, leading Clemson to the championship of the Ping/Preview Invitational at Columbus, OH. Trahan, playing in the final group of the day, birdied the 18th hole to give Clemson a one stroke victory over ACC rival Wake Forest.

On Saturday, Dantzler, the quarterback of the Clemson football team, scored a touchdown on an 11-yard run on the last play of overtime to give the Tigers a 47-44 victory over Georgia Tech.

Clemson finished first on Sunday in the 15-team field that included 10 of the top 12 ranked teams in the nation It was held on the Scarlet Course at Ohio State University. The par 71 course that is nearly 7300 yards in length is the site of the NCAA Championship in late May and early June.

Larry Penley’s Tigers finished with a 10-over par team total of 862 in winning the event for just the second time in its history.. The Tigers last won in the fall of 1990. It was the 48th victory of Penley’s Clemson career. Wake Forest finished second with a 863 team score, while Texas was third at 864. Host school Ohio State was fourth at 867, while Virginia Tech was fifth at 871.

Defending NCAA Champion Florida, in second place by just two shots behind the Tigers heading into the final round, was 15-over-par as a team on Sunday and finished tied for sixth with 2000 NCAA Champion Georgia at 872. Oklahoma State was eighth at 874, Oklahoma was ninth at 882 and Georgia Tech was 10th at 890, 38-over par.

East Tennessee State was 11th at 891, Augusta State was 12th at 892, Arizona was 13th at 893, Arizona State was 14th at 905 and Pacific was 15th at 908.

Trahan, who lives with Clemson reserve quarterback Matt Schell, was Clemson’s top individual with a 71 on Sunday and a 211 score for the 54 holes, good enough for second place. Brent Wanner of Wake Forest was the individual medallist at 210, one stroke better than Trahan, Bill Haas of Wake Forest and Doug Wade of Ohio State.

Clemson held a five-shot lead heading into the final seven holes. But, the Tigers had to count five bogeys over the last seven holes and Wake Forest played consistent golf to forge into a tie with two holes left. The Deacons played three holes ahead of Clemson and headed into the clubhouse with a +11 team total. Clemson was also at +11 as a team as Trahan went to the 18th tee. But, the Clemson junior who was a member of the United State Walker Cup team this past summer, responded with a birdie three on the par four hole.

Gregg Jones supported Trahan on Sunday with a 72 and he finished the 54 holes with a 214 score, good enough for a ninth-place finish. Jones came through in the clutch with three pars to finish his round when Clemson and Wake Forest were tied as a team.

Matt Hendrix was Clemson’s third best golfer at the event and the third best golfer on Sunday. He shot a two-over-par 73 on Sunday and finished at 221 for the three rounds. He played the final 36 holes at even par after shooting an eight-over-par 79 in the first round. Martin Catalioto, playing in his first collegiate tournament, had his third straight 75 on Sunday. His score counted towards Clemson’s team score all three days. Jack Ferguson, Clemson’s top golfer in the first round with a 70, slumped to an 80 on Sunday.

Clemson will next be in action at the Carpet Capital Classic in Dalton, GA next weekend.