April 4, 2010
Clemson, SC-Current Clemson golfer Ben Martin and former Tiger All-American Lucas Glover will both play in The Masters, at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA April 8-11. For Glover it will be his third Masters and it will be the first for Martin. Glover will join Jonathan Byrd and D.J. Trahan as former Tigers who have played in the Masters three times.
Martin, who received his degree from Clemson on December 17, 2009, is the top golfer on the current Clemson team with a 72.78 average. He was co-Medalist at the Furman Invitational March 19-21 when he had a six under par 210 for the 54 holes. The native of Greenwood, SC has four top 10 finishes this year. Martin qualified for the Masters by virtue of his runner up finish at the US Amateur last August. He is one of six amateurs in the field.
Glover qualified for the Masters by winning last year’s US Open, the first Major Championship by any former Clemson golfer. Last year he finished ninth on the PGA Tour money list with over $3.6 million. So far this year he has made six cuts in eight tournaments, including a ninth-place finish at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Martin will be the 10th different former or current Clemson golfer to play in the Masters. The history dates to 1977 when ACC Champion Parker Moore played in the event as an amateur after finishing as the runner up at the United States Amateur. Moore’s appearance in the Masters came the year after he graduated from Clemson.
Martin will become the third current Clemson golfer to play in the Masters while he was a member of the Clemson golf team. D.J. Trahan (2001) also did it. Patton is the only amateur with ties to Clemson to make the cut at the Masters, as he finished 39th in 1990 with a 296 score.
Six former or current Tigers have made the cut at the Masters. Lucas Glover finished 20th in his second career Masters, and last year Trahan finished 44th with a 293 score.
Pruitt had a 68 in the second round in the 1992 Masters and a 69 in the final round that same year for the top two rounds for a former Tiger at the Masters. His 282 score is also the top tournament by a former Clemson golfer at the event. Byrd’s eighth place finish in 2003 is the top finish by a former Clemson golfer at The Masters.
Golfers with Clemson Ties who have played in the Masters
Name | Clem Yr. | Masters Yr. | Scores | Score (Finish) |
Parker Moore | 1972-76 | #1977 | 76-76 | 152 missed cut |
Chris Patton | 1986-90 | #1990 | 71-73-74-78 | 296 (39) |
Dillard Pruitt | 1980-84 | 1992 | 75-68-70-69 | 282 (13) $26,500 |
1993 | 76-75 | 151 missed cut | ||
#Danny Ellis | 1989-93 | 1994 | 74-78 | 152 missed cut |
Clarence Rose | 1978-80 | 1997 | 73-75-79-74 | 301 (43) $9,720 |
#D.J. Trahan | 1999-pres. | #2001 | 75-78 | 153 missed cut |
2008 | 76-77 | 153 missed cut | ||
2009 | 72-73-72-76 | 293 (44th), $25,500 | ||
#Michael Hoey | 1998-99 | 2002 | 75-73 | 148 missed cut |
Jonathan Byrd | 1997-00 | 2003 | 74-71-71-72 | 288 (8) $162,000 |
2004 | 79-74 | 153 missed Cut | ||
2008 | 75-74 | 149, missed cut | ||
Lucas Glover | 1998-01 | 2006 | 73-78 | 151, Missed Cut |
2007 | 74-71-79-74 | 298 (20th) $84,462 |
#Played as an amateur