Two Former Tigers Qualify for US Open

June 6, 2006

Former Clemson All-American golfer Lucas Glover and D.J. Trahan will compete in the US Open at Winged Foot in Mamaronek, NY, June 12-15. It marks the first time since 2001 and just the third time in history that two former Tigers have qualified for the US Open.

Glover did not have to go through qualifying as he ranked among the top 30 on the PGA Tour money list last year. He is currently 22nd on this year’s money list with $1,518,954 in earnings through 16 events. He has six Top 10 finishes this year to rank third on the PGA Tour in that category.

Trahan, who played on the same team at Clemson with Glover in 2000 and 2001, qualified for the US Open on Monday by shooting a 139 score for 36 holes at Brookside Golf and Country Club in Columbus, OH. He was one of 21 golfers who advanced from that site. He had rounds of 71 and 68 in the 36-hole competition. So far this season Trahan has competed in 15 PGA Tour events and has made four cuts. He has earned $155,752 and is 162nd on the money list.

This will be Glover’s second appearance in a US Open. He qualified for the 2002 Open in Farmingdale, NY where he shot a 151 over two days and missed the cut. It will be Glover’s fourth appearance in a Major overall. He played in the 2005 PGA and the 2006 Masters. He is looking to make his first cut at a major.

This will be Trahan’s first appearance in the US Open and his second major. He also played in the 2001 Masters where he had scores of 75 and 78 before missing the cut.

The only other years two former Clemson golfers competed in the US Open were 2000 and 2001. Charles Warren and Kevin Johnson played in the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach, while Johnson and Joey Maxon played in the 2001 Open in Tulsa, OK. Warren finished 37th at the US Open at Pebble Beach.

The last former Tiger golfer to make the cut at the US Open is Jonathan Byrd who had a 282 total to finish 15th at Olympia Fields near Chicago, IL in 2003. That is also the best finish ever by a former Clemson golfer at the US Open and the second best finish at a Major by a former Tiger. Former Clemson All-American Clarence Rose has played in the most US Open tournaments with six appearances.

Three other golfers with ties to Clemson came within two shots of qualifying for this year’s US Open. Former Clemson All-American and 1997 NCAA Champion Charles Warren shot a 142 on Monday at Brookside Golf Club in Columbus to miss by two shots, as did future Clemson golfer Sam Saunders, who also had a 142. Warren had rounds of 72-70, while Saunders had rounds of 73-69. Saunders will be a freshman on the Clemson team next fall.

Former Clemson All-American Matt Hendrix shot a 140 for his 36 holes at Canoe Brook in New Jersey and missed the cut by two shots. Ben Duncan, like Hendrix a starter on Clemson’s National Championship team, also competed at Canoe Brook and had a 143 for his two rounds, five shots off the cut line.