July 16, 2008

TOKYO, Japan - UAB golfer Zack Sucher and his partner, North Carolina's Kevin O'Connell, dominated their opponents in the opening match at the 33rd annual Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship, winning, 140-153. The United States won three matches and halved another to claim a 7-5 lead after the first round.

Sucher was selected as one of 12 collegiate golfers to represent the United States at the 2008 by the Golf Coaches Association of America. He and O'Connell's 13-stroke victory was the largest of any of the six first round matches.

The Americans would also claim the second match when Brent Witcher and Chris Wolfe downed Hiroki Abe and Hiroki Nashida 142-143. Witcher was also four-under in his match. Japan would claim the next match 138-141 when Yuki Usami and Shunsuke Sonoda beat Nick Bova and Ryan Spears. The two sides halved the final men's match after a strong rally by Sam Cyr and Andrew Putnam.

The two teams would split the women's matches. Nanae Shinzato and Kaoria Azuma defeated Sydnee Michaels and Lizette Salas, 145-147. America claimed the final match of the day when Cydney Clanton's five-under-par 69 propelled her and Jessica Yadloczky to a 146-151 victory.

Team USA leads the all-time series, 24-8, and has won the last eight competitions in Japan.

The second round will begin Friday at 8:30 a.m. (GMT +9).