Trahan Moves to Number-one in Sagarin Rankings

April 9, 2003

Clemson senior D.J. Trahan has risen to the number-one ranking in college golf according to the latest Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. The ratings are through college tournaments of this past weekend. The Clemson team remains ranked number-one for the second straight month. Trahan is also rated number-one in the world amateur rankings by Golfweek.

Trahan moved ahead of Oklahoma State’s Hunter Mahan with a 54-hole score of 201 at the Cleveland Golf Augusta State Invitational this past weekend. The native of Inman who was named the winner of the Jack Nicklaus Award last year, had rounds of 66-71-64 in scoring a 15-under-par tournament. He finished second to Oliver Wilson of Augusta State, who has now moved to third in the individual rankings.

Trahan’s 64 on Sunday included birdies on the 17th and 18th holes. It was his career low round after eight scores of 66 previously in his career. His 15-under-par tournament was the low tournament in Clemson history vs. par on a par 72 course. His score helped the Tigers to a 42-under-par score as a team and an 822 total. Both the under-par and 822 team score were all-time Clemson records.

Clemson has three of the top 15 players in the nation according to the latest Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. In addition to Trahan’s number-one ranking, sophomore Jack Ferguson is ninth with a 69.76 rating, while junior Matt Hendrix is 15th with a 69.99 figure. Ferguson finished fourth at the Cleveland Golf Augusta State Invitational with a 205 score, 11-under-par. Hendrix had a 211 figure and was 21st.

The Clemson team remains ranked number-one in the nation, a position it has held all spring. Texas has moved to number-two, while ACC rival Wake Forest is third. Arizona is fourth, followed by UNLV and Augusta State. North Carolina (11th), Georgia Tech (15th) and NC State (16th) are the other ACC teams in the top 20.

In addition to Clemson’s number-one overall ranking, the Tigers also have played the toughest schedule in the nation according to the Sagarin rankings. Clemson has in incredible 73-7-3 record against the other top 25 teams in the nation. The Tigers have finished first, second or third in all 10 of their events this year, a streak that is actually a school record 14 tournaments long going back to last year. The previous Clemson record for consecutive tournament finishes in third place or better was five.

In addition to Trahan’s collegiate ranking, he remains number-one in the latest Golfweek/Titleist Amateur rankings. Mahan is also number-two in that ranking, followed by Ricky Barnes of the University of Arizona and Bill Haas of Wake Forest. Clemson’s Jack Ferguson is tied for 20th in the amateur rankings.

Clemson will next be in action April 18-20 when it comes in the ACC Tournament at the Old North State Club at Uwharrie Point, NC.

Sagarin/Golfweek Indivdual College Golf Rankings        (Through tournaments of April 7, 2003)        Rk      Player  School  Rating        1.      D.J. Trahan     Clemson         68.81        2.      Hunter Mahan    Oklahoma State  69.01        3.      Oliver Wilson   Augusta State   69.22        4.      Brandt Snedeker Vanderbilt      69.38        5.      Bill Haas       Wake Forest     69.40        6.      Nick Watney     Fresno State    69.43        7.      Justin Walters  NC State        69.47        8.      Dustin Bray     North Carolina  69.54        9.      Jack Ferguson   Clemson         69.76        10.     Ryan Moore      UNLV    69.85        11.     Troy Matteson   Georgia Tech    69.90        12.     Jason Hartwick  Texas   69.90        13.     Chris Nallen    Arizona 69.90        14.     Ricky Barnes    Arizona 69.95        15.     Matt Hendrix    Clemson         69.99        16.     Jim Seki        Stanford        70.08        17.     Adam Rubinson   TCU     70.15        18.     Jay Mundy       Auburn  70.15        19.     James Vargas    Florida 70.29        20.     Brock MacKenzie Washington      70.29

Golfweek/Titleist Men’s Amateur Rankings (Through March 30, 2003) Rk Name Hometown Pts 1. D.J. Trahan Inman, SC 230 2. Hunter Mahan McKinney, TX 225 3. Ricky Barnes Stockton, CA 215 4. Bill Haas Greer, SC 190 5. Dustin Bray Asheboro, NC 150 6. Ryan Moore Payallup, WA 145 7. Chris Nallen Hackettstown, NJ 140 8. Adam Rubinson Ft. Worth, TX 135 9. Simon Nash Australia 130 10. Spencer Levin Elk Grove, CA 125 11. Justin Smith Moon Township, PA 110 12. Lee Williams Alexander City, AL 105 14. Brock McKenzie Yakima, WA 100 14. Dillard Pruitt Greenville, SC 100 14. Justin Walters South Africa 100 17. Brady Stockton San Ramon, CA 95 17. Nick Watney Dixon, CA 95 17. Jason Hartwick Sacramento, CA 95 17. Tripp Davis Norman, OK 95 20. Danny Green Jackson, TN 90 20. Jack Ferguson Seneca, SC 90

Sagarin/Golfweek Team Rankings (Through Tournaments of April 7, 2003) Rk School Rating 1. Clemson 69.73 2. Texas 70.78 3. Wake Forest 70.83 4. Arizona 70.88 5. UNLV 70.88 6. Augusta State 70.93 7. TCU 70.93 8. Oklahoma State 71.02 9. Florida 71.03 10. UCLA 71.19 11. North Carolina 71.26 12. Georgia 71.49 13. Auburn 71.52 14. Minnesota 71.53 15. Georgia Tech 71.59 16. NC State 71.66 17. New Mexico 71.70 18. Charleston 71.74 19. Washington 71.78