CCU

Men's Golf Extends Lead Through Two Rounds of 2009 Big South Conference Championship

       

Men's Golf Extends Lead Through Two Rounds of 2009 Big South Conference Championship

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NINETY-SIX, S.C. – Coastal Carolina shot a team aggregate 286 (2-under par) on Tuesday to take a commanding lead after two rounds of the 2009 Big South Men’s Golf Championship, which is being contested at The Patriot Golf Club at Grand Harbor (par 72, par 7,079 yards) in Ninety Six, S.C.  The Chanticleers own a 36-hole score of 583, a 24-stroke lead over second-place Gardner-Webb (607).

 

Individually, Coastal Carolina redshirt-senior and 2009 Big South Golfer of the Year Zack Byrd carded a 5-under 67 on Tuesday for the lowest round of the tournament and move into the individual lead with a 2-under 142.  First round leader Cipriano Ayala of Winthrop finished with an 80 to fall into a tie for ninth-place at 152.  High Point’s D.J. Dougherty was even par on Tuesday with a 72 and sits in a tie for second-place with Coastal Carolina’s David Dannelly at 146 (+2).

 

Despite strong wind gusts at times, Byrd was bogey free on the front nine with four birdies en route to a 4-under 32.  He finished 1-under on the back nine, but sank three birdies to give him seven on the day and a tournament-best 12 through two rounds.  Byrd is the first player to score in the 60s in the Big South Men’s Golf Championship since former teammate Dustin Johnson in 2007.  Byrd’s 67 is the first in the Conference championship held at The Patriot since Liberty’s Parker McKoy in 2006. 

 

Dougherty had five birdies, including four on the back nine, where he finished with a 2-under par 34.  Dannelly posted his second consecutive 73 to remain in second place.  Coastal Carolina’s remaining players – Sam Lyons, Drew Ernst and Tripp McAllister, all finished at 73 on Tuesday to help the Chanticleers finish under par as a team. 

 

Liberty made the biggest jump of the day, moving up from last place to third place after finishing with a 294 on Tuesday.  Preston Dembowiak, Nathan Schenz-Davis and Jay Calvo all shot 73 in the second round to help the Flames shave 24 shots off their first round score of 318.  Gardner-Webb had a 303 on Tuesday to remain in second-place behind Coastal Carolina, but is just five shots ahead of Liberty.  Other individual highlights on Tuesday included Winthrop’s Brent Martin and Charleston Southern’s Herve Gevers finishing the front nine with a 3-under par 33.  Dougherty’s 2-under 34 on the back nine was the best of the day.

 

Winthrop is officially in fourth-place with a 616, while High Point moved up one spot for the second consecutive day and sits in fifth with a 619.  Radford and Charleston Southern both fell in the standings, as the Highlanders are sixth with a 621 while the Buccaneers are last with a 633.  Presbyterian owns a 36-hole score of 615, but the Blue Hose are not eligible for the championship and its results do not officially count in the individual or team standings as part of its transition to Division I.

 

Coastal Carolina is looking to win its unprecedented sixth consecutive Big South Men’s Golf Championship, while Byrd is looking to become just the second two-time individual champion in League history.  Byrd was the championship medalist as a freshman in 2005.  Final round action of the 2009 Big South Men’s Golf Championship begins at 8:00am ET Wednesday and is free and open to the public.

 

Team Results                                                                       Top 10 Individual Results

1.     Coastal Carolina                   297-286 = 583                1.     Zack Byrd, Coastal Carolina                           75-67 = 142

2.     Gardner-Webb                      304-303 = 607                2.     D.J. Dougherty, High Point                            74-72 = 146

3.     Liberty                                   318-294 = 612                        David Dannelly, Coastal Carolina                 73-73 = 146

**   Presbyterian                          307-308 = 615                4.     Tripp McAllister, Coastal Carolina               74-73 = 147

4.     Winthrop                               307-309 = 616                5.     Drew Ernst, Coastal Carolina                         75-73 = 148

5.     High Point                             313-306 = 619                **   Patrick Coleman, Presbyterian                       74-74 = 148

6.     Radford                                  312-309 = 621                6.     Preston Dembowiak, Liberty                          76-73 = 149

7.     Charleston Southern           310-323 = 633                7.     Sam Lyons, Coastal Carolina                         77-73 = 150

                                                                                                8.     Kelly Manders, Winthrop                              74-77 = 151

                                                                                                9.     four players tied with                                      152