Two Tigers to Play in Masters

by CU Athletic Communications - Tue Apr 06 06:12:17 GMT-04:00 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. Chris Patton (1990) and 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. Chris Patton finished 39th, the low amateur in 1990, Dillard Pruitt, now an official with the PGA Tour, was 13th in 1992, Clarence Rose was 43rd in 1997 and Jonathan Byrd was eighth in 2003. In 2007, 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 1999-02 #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