July 17, 2008

TOKYO GOLF CLUB, Japan -- The United States maintained its two-point lead following the second round of the 33rd annual Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship at Tokyo Golf Club. The two teams split the day's singles matches to give Team USA a 19-17 lead.

Things looked bleak for the American team early as they led only three matches and trailed in seven halfway through the second round.Kevin O'Connell trailed most of the front nine in his match before taking the lead for good in his 72-74 win against Hiroki Nishida. Ryan Spears battled back from a three shot deficit and halved the opening match with Shintaro Kobayashi, 70-70.

Japan would claim the next two matches when Daisuke Okabe and Shunsuke Sonoda defeated Brent Witcher and Andrew Putnam, respectively. Okabe lead by four shots after 10 before holding on to a 70-71 victory. Sonoda controlled his match throughout, winning 67-72. Chris Wolfe overcame a four-shot deficit at the turn and shot one-under on the back nine for the biggest comeback of the day when he beat Yoshihiro Kamei, 75-78. Tomohiro Wakabayashi downed Nick Bova 71-77. Zack Sucher and Yuki Usami halved the final men's match, 71-71. Sucher left a putt two inches short that would have clinched the match before Usami drained a nine-footer for the halve. The U.S. women won three of four matches as Jessica Yadloczky, Sydnee Michaels, and Cydney Clanton all turned in victories.

O'Connell, ACC Freshmen of the Year and PING All-America Third Team, has carded two victories at the 33rd annual Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship. O'Connell and Zack Sucher of UAB defeated Daisuke Okabe and Yoshihiro Kamei of Japan 140-153 in Wednesday's opening round match play. The Cary, NC native rallied Thursday to defeat Hiroki Nishida 72-74 in the second round of the tournament. O'Connell, an All-ACC performer, continues his strong play in Japan after carding seven top-10 finishes in Carolina's 11 tournaments in 2007-08. Past rosters for the for golf's longest running collegiate event, have included such names as Curtis Strange, Carolina alum Davis Love III, David Toms, Juli Inkster and Dottie Pepper. O'Connell will again be paired against Nishida Friday in the final round of the Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship.