TOP 20 IN THEIR 20S: D.J. Trahan  Editor's Note: Our "Top 20 in Their 20s" series continues as PGATOUR.com counts down the top golfers on the PGA TOUR aged 20-29 over the next three weeks. The list is based on 14 statistical categories, including TOUR wins, Official World Golf Ranking, percentage of time spent in the top 10 throughout their career and 2007 FedExCup performance. Who is No. 19? D.J. Trahan
If D.J. Trahan were constructing his golf resume, he could sum up his career accomplishments as such: "Won on every level in the golfing ranks." Expanding upon that fact a bit, he might then add: • Became youngest golfer in history to win a round in match play at the U.S. Junior Amateur while just 13 years old. • Three-time all-state selection at Dorman High School in Spartanburg, S.C., and member of the team that won the state title in 1998 and 1999. • At age 19, defeated big-hitting Bubba Watson in the 2000 United States Public Links Championship. • Captured the NCAA title in 2003 with Clemson University teammates, the first group in the school's impressive golf history to do so. Same team was first in NCAA history to win the conference championship, NCAA regional title and NCAA tournament. • Turned pro in 2003 and won first Nationwide Tour event in 2004 at the Miccosukee Championship. • Tied for 11th at the PGA TOUR National Qualifying Tournament in 2004 and landed in the top-10 three times in rookie season in 2005. • Earned first PGA TOUR title in 2006 at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic.
"I've been fortunate enough in my amateur career to have won a fair bit of golf tournaments. I know how to play when I'm in the lead or near the lead," Trahan said the week after his victory in 2006. "...[My] heart is still racing because it was a three-hole playoff, and it was a hell of a playoff, and it was pretty exciting to have come out on top with such a thrilling finish like that." Trahan, born Donald Roland Trahan, Jr. to a golf professional father, followed up his victorious sophomore season with three top-10s in 2007, including a runner-up finish at the Frys.com Open benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children. He shared the 36-hole lead with George McNeill and Garrett Willis but eventually fell four strokes short of McNeill. "It's been kind of a frustrating year before this week," Trahan said at this year's Frys.com Open. "It was nice to see some putts fall...It almost seemed insignificant with George's lead being so big. He played great, and I was proud of myself that I played so well." Just one more thing to add to his ever-expanding resume. Who will be named No. 18 tomorrow? Hint: Hailing from an athletic family, this young golfer has a father who played basketball in college and three older brothers who also played Division I sports. |
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