Former Coastal Carolina golfer Zack Byrd has made the field at the 2011 US Open. Byrd got confirmation that he is in the field on Saturday. Byrd was one of an approximate 8,500 golfers who went through US Open qualifying. After winning the qualifier in Wallace, NC, Byrd finished in a tie for 5th at the regional qualifier at Summit, NJ. With four Summit qualifiers in the US Open field, Byrd earned the first alternate spot from the Summit qualifier.
Last week, WPDE Sports and CarolinaLive.com told you the story of Byrd making the US Open alternate list. Following a chip in at Summit, NJ during a playoff, Byrd learned that he was the fourth on the overall alternate list for the US Open at Congressional.
CarolinaLive.com: Byrd on verge of US Open spot
Byrd's name moved up the list when Tiger Woods and Anders Hensen withdrew from golf's second major on Tuesday. Then on Saturday, Tim Clark withdrew from the event. The USGA reserves three spots for golfers who may enter the top 50 in the world golf rankings as well as golfers who win a second PGA Tour event in the past 12 months. Gary Woodland moved into the top 50 last week leaving two spots open, but Steve Marino and Scott Verplank missed the cut at Memphis giving them no chance of entering the top 50.
Byrd will leave for the Washington, DC area on Sunday. He has played on mini-tours throughout the Southeast. Byrd played at CCU from 2004-2009 and was a teammate of current PGA Tour star Dustin Johnson.
