June 20, 2009

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - Rising Kennesaw State junior Matt Nagy concluded play at the 109th U.S. Open Saturday morning by recording birdies on three of his final holes, finishing with an aggregate score of 156.

Finally getting to tee off early Friday afternoon after most of play Thursday was rained out, Nagy matched defending champion Tiger Woods by firing a 37 on his first nine holes.

Nagy's first birdie for the tournament came on the par-5 13th hole, which measures 605 yards. He closed his first round with a 76.

The Buena Vista, Ga., native went out to finish his second round Saturday morning. Nagy found a groove starting on the 478-yard fifth hole, where he recorded his first birdie of the round. On the 408-yard sixth, Nagy notched his second consecutive birdie when he carded a three for the second hole in a row.

On No. 8, Nagy recorded his third birdie in four holes when he recorded a two on the 230-yard par three.

"It is a little difficulte to tee off on No. 1 with 47,500 fans watching," Nagy wrote in his U.S. Open blog. "I was extremely happy to hit the fairway and the green, thus making a par on the first hole of the U.S. Open."

Nagy finished just one stroke behind two-time U.S. Open champion Ernie Els, who recorded a 155.