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Men's Golf's Byrd Fires 74 in Opening Round of U.S. Amateur

       

Men's Golf's Byrd Fires 74 in Opening Round of U.S. Amateur

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PINEHURST, N.C. -- Coastal Carolina University redshirt senior Zack Byrd shot an opening round 4-over 74 on Pinehurst Resort #4 at the 2008 U.S. Amateur Men's Golf Championship.

Byrd had three birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey on the day for his 4-over total. Tomorrow, he will shift to the Resort #2 course for the second round, with the top 64 players after 36 holes making the cut to match play. The current cut line is 2-over, with 28 players tied for 63rd at that number.Wesley Bryan, a current University of South Carolina golfer, and Pepperdine's Andrew Putnam are tied for the lead at 3-under 67 through 18 holes.

Following two days of stroke play (Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 18-19), the field of 315 golfers will be reduced to the lowest 64 scorers, who will advance to match play. All matches are 18 holes except the final match. The 36-hole championship final match is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 24. The first and second rounds of stroke play are set for Monday and Tuesday (Aug. 18-19) at Pinehurst Resort’s No. 2 and No. 4 courses. All match-play rounds will be played at the No. 2 course, beginning Wednesday (Aug. 20). A single round of match play is scheduled on Wednesday, followed by the second and third rounds on Thursday (Aug. 21), and single rounds again from Friday-Sunday (Aug. 22-24).

The champion receives an exemption into the 2009 U.S. Open and British Open, and a probable invitation to play in the 2009 Masters Tournament, if he remains an amateur. He also receives a 10-year exemption into the U.S. Amateur field so long as he remains an amateur.