ABAC’s golf team attended the NJCAAP Division II Men’s Golf Championship in Foley, AL back in May. Held at Glenlakes Golf Club, the tournament spanned over the course of four days with 18 holes being played each day. Despite having a few weather delays, golfers from nearly 40 junior colleges were there to represent their school at the championship. Out of 137 players who participated in the tournament, five of these players were from ABAC.
Members from ABAC’s golf team that attended the championship were Adam Park, Will Bozeman, Andrew Nagel, Trevor Daily, and Ryan Walters: Coach Larry Byrnes joined the team as well. All members scores were in the 70s. Park made the 2nd team All American after missing the first team by two strokes. He placed 9th in the country. Overall ABAC’s golf team finished 6th in the country.
Coach Byrnes said the team began practice for this semester on August 27th. Ten players are on the team this semester, made of three returning players and seven new players: Park, Bozeman, and Matthew Cheek are the three returning players. The seven new members are Kyung Chung, Hunter Dokey, Tanner Clough, Thomas Lupien, Gavin Szydlo, Dalton Taylor, and Taylor White.
The team traveled to Sea Island to compete in the Coastal GA tournament on Sept. 9-11. Byrnes said the team faced tough competition at the tournament. “We finished 12th out of 16 teams that were in the Coastal Ga. tournament. Not a great showing, but pretty good for the first tournament on the year.” Byrnes also stated that Gavin Szydlo came in with a 3-round total of 230 which was a great first tournament for a freshman. Kyung Chung followed with 233 and Matthew Cheek came in at 234. “For the first time out, it wasn’t bad, but we have a lot of work to do”.
Byrnes looks forward to the competition and watching his students grow. “Anybody that knows me knows winning golf tournaments is way down my list of priorities. Getting these kids ready for the rest of their lives is very important to me.”
Upcoming tournaments are the Georgia Military Invitational at Reynolds Plantation on Sept. 23-25, Piedmont College Invitational in Clarksville, GA on Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, and finally the Walters State Invitational in Morristown, TN.
