Makes third best comeback in PGA Tour history

CLEMSON — Former Clemson All-American Kyle Stanley overcame an eight-shot deficit entering the final round and won the 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open on Sunday. Stanley had a 72-hole score of 269, a 15-under par score on the par 71 TPC of Scottsdale Course.

Stanley had rounds of 69-66-69-65 in winning $1,098,000, his biggest check as a professional. With the victory he moved to first place on the PGA Tour money list with $1,793,575 through four events. He also leads the Tour in Fed Ex Cup points and is third on the Tour in stroke average with a 69.13 average.

On Sunday, in shooting a 65, Stanley had six birdies and 12 pars. He hit 16 of 18 greens, giving him 57 of 72 greens for the week. He won by one shot over Ben Crane, who shot a 66 on Sunday and finished with a 270 score. Spencer Levin, who had a six-shot lead on the field, including eight shots over Stanley entering the final round, finished third at 13-under-par 271. Stanley was tied for fifth at nine under par entering the final round.

Former Clemson All-American D.J. Trahan shot a 66 on Sunday and finished fourth with a 272 score. Trahan had a 64 on Saturday, and his 130 score was the best in the tournament on the weekend, even four shots better than Stanley. Stanley overcame an eight-shot deficit entering the final round. It tied for the third best comeback in the history of the PGA Tour and was the best since Craig Stadler overcame an eight-shot deficit entering the final round of the 2003 BC Open.

Stanley has been the story of professional golf so far this year. He had a five-shot lead entering the final round of the Farmer’s Insurance Open in San Diego last weekend, and had a seven-shot lead in the middle of the final round. But he made an eight on the last hole, then lost in a playoff to Brent Snedeker. But one week later, Stanley was in the winner’s circle holding a check of more than $1 million.

With Stanley’s victory, a former Clemson golfer has won at least one tournament on the PGA Tour each of the last nine years, the longest active streak for any school. Arizona State and UNLV could tie the Tigers if one of their former players wins an event later this year.

Stanley’s win will give him an invitation to the Masters in April. That will give Clemson four players in the Masters for the first time. Lucas Glover  qualified earlier by virtue of his 2009 US Open Championship. Jonathan Byrd had already qualified by his top-30 finish on the Fed Ex Cup list last year. Current Clemson golfer Corbin Mills received an invitation by winning the 2011 US Public Links Championship.

Stanley is the youngest former Clemson golfer to win a PGA event. Born on November 19, 1987, Stanley is 24 years, two months and 17 days. Jonathan Byrd was the previous youngest former Tiger to win on the Tour. He was 24 years and nine months when he won the 2002 Buick Challenge.

Stanley was an All-American at Clemson between 2006-09. He was a first-team All-American as a freshman and a junior when he finished second at the NCAA Championships both years. He helped Clemson to a number-five national team finish in 2008, his sophomore year.

–Clemson Sports Information

Greatest Comebacks in PGA Tour History

     Year        Golfer                 Tournament                        Comeback

1999         Paul Lawrie          British Open                         10 shots

2004         Stewart Cink        MCI Heritage                        9 shots

     2012         Kyle Stanley       Waste Management           8 shots

1956         Jackie Burke        Masters                                8 shots

1959         Ken Venturie        Los Angeles Open               8 shots

1983         Mark Lye              Banks of Boston                  8 shots

1985         Hal Sutton            St. Jude Memphis Open      8 shots

1990         Chip Beck            Buick Open                          8 shots

1998         Scott Simpson     Buick Invitational                  8 shots

2003         Craig Stadler       BC Open                              8 Shots

Clemson Alumni PGA Tour Victories

      Year       Player                     Tournament                   Score             Victory Margin     

1991       Dillard Pruitt          Chattanooga Classic        260 (-20)       2 over Lance Ten Broeck

1996       Clarence Rose        Spring International        31 Points       Playoff over Brad Faxon

2002       Jonathan Byrd        Buick Challenge               261 (-27)       1 over David Toms

2004       Jonathan Byrd        BC Open                            268 (-20)       1 over Ted Purdy

2005       Lucas Glover          Funai Open                       265 (-23)       1 over Tom Pernice

2006       D.J. Trahan              Southern Farm                 275 (-13)       Playoff vs. Joe Durant

2007       Jonathan Byrd        John Deere                        266 (-18)       1 over Tim Clark

2008       D.J. Trahan              Bob Hope Chrysler         334 (-26)       3 over Justin Leonard

2009       Lucas Glover          US Open                             276 (-4)         2 over Barnes, Duval, Michelson

2010       Jonathan Byrd        Justin Timberlake           263 (-21)       playoff over Laird, Percy

2011       Jonathan Byrd        Hyundai Classic              260 (-24)       playoff over Robert Garrigus

2011       Lucas Glover          Wells Fargo                      273 (-15)       Playoff over Jonathan Byrd

      2012     Kyle Stanley         Waste Management    269 (-15)     1 over Ben Crane