June 8, 2009

KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State men's golfer Matthew Nagy qualified for the 2009 U.S. Open by tying for medalist honors in the sectional qualifier at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Ga., Monday afternoon.

The KSU rising junior shot a 71 in the first 18 holes of play. After a 30-minute break for lunch, Nagy returned to the course and fired a 63, posting a 10-under par score for his two rounds to tie PGA Tour professional and Georgia Tech alumnus Matt Kuchar for low medalist honors.

"I didn't even know if I was going to get to play today," said Nagy after his magical round was over. "I was an alternate, but then someone else didn't show up. The club pro at Hawks Ridge, Chuck Knebels, told me to come on up in case someone didn't make it. I only got four hours of sleep last night, and my bed looked pretty comfortable this morning, but I figured I may as well head on out and try."

Nagy hit his first tee shot without even warming up on the range. The Buena Vista, Ga., native was able to give himself a chance entering the second round by finishing off a 71.

"We had a break for lunch and I ate half a sandwich and then hit the range," Nagy said. "I knew I had a couple of things to work on. Then I went out and my second shot was a straight shot right at the pin. I teed off on the second hole and hit a straight shot and just felt, 'Okay I can do this.'"

Nagy played the front nine of Hawks Ridge in 32, then improved his back nine score by six strokes when he made six birdies without a bogey over the final nine. The KSU golfer did not make a bogey in his final round.

"We're very proud of Matt," said KSU head men's golf coach Blake Smart. "This is a huge individual achievement that will go a long way towards putting Kennesaw State golf on the map."

Only three spots in the U.S. Open were available to 43 golfers trying to qualify for the event through the sectional qualifier. Overall, 767 golfers were trying to make the U.S. Open field through 13 qualifiers held Monday across the nation.

Nagy will now play in the U.S. Open at the formidable Bethpage Black Golf Course in Farmingdale, N.Y. Tiger Woods is the defending champion of the event.