CCU

Men's Golf's Byrd Wins US Open Local Qualifier

       

Men's Golf's Byrd Wins US Open Local Qualifier

CONWAY, S.C. -- Coastal Carolina men's golfer Zack Byrd (Calabash, N.C./Byrd Academy) fired a four-under 68 to win the U.S. Open Local Qualifier in Wallace, N.C., May 11.

Byrd led five players who qualified from the local event at River Landing Golf Club in Wallace, N.C., as the cut was made at two-under 70 in a three-man playoff for one spot. Among the finishers behind Byrd was Southern California's Ryan Linton and Ryan Zylstra who played collegiately at Virginia Commonwealth, both with three-under 69s and PGA golfer Bobby Clampett, who failed to advance after shooting a 71.

Byrd is a two-time All-Big South honoree, having won medalist honors his freshman year and being voted on to the squad by the league's coaches and sports information directors this past season. The 2005 Big South Freshman of the Year, he currently ranks second on the team in scoring with a 72.30 average, having helped the team to its ninth Big South Conference title in the last 11 years. He is currently 58th in the GolfWeek/Sagarin ratings, helping the Chanticleers to a current ranking of ninth in the GolfWorld/Nike Coaches' Poll and 12th in the GolfWeek/Sagarin Ratings.

The Coastal men are the No. 4 seed in the upcoming NCAA East Regional, being played May 17-19 at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta, Ga. The top 10 teams from each regional advance to compete for the NCAA Championship, May 30-June 2 at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Williamsburg, Va.