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    Blayne Barber Currently Ninth In World Amateur Golf Rankings Barber Recently Won The 2009 St. Augustine Amateur
    Barber at the 2009 Florida Am

    Barber at the 2009 Florida Am

    Jan. 12, 2010

     

    AUBURN - Although currently redshirting his sophomore season after transferring to Auburn, Blayne Barber continues to tear it up on the links and now ranks ninth in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR). The WAGR system uses results from selected events to rate a worldwide field of 3,750 amateur golfers.

    Barber recently earned medalist honors at the 2009 St. Augustine Am, shooting an even-par 210 for a three-stroke win over Port Orange, Fla., native Wesley Graham. Dominating the 2009 Florida Am, Barber emerged a nine-stroke winner over Auburn signee Blake Soni, carding an 11-under 277.

    Off the course, the 20-year-old out of Lake City, Fla., has enjoyed the extra study time gained by sitting out a semester.

    "I've made school my competition this fall which has been very nice," said Barber. "Sometimes it's hard to balance the two. As for the golf game, I've just been focusing on some minor parts of my game that needed some work."

    Barber transferred to Auburn following a stellar freshman season at Central Florida. Under the direction Auburn head coach Nick Clinard, Barber earned Five-man GCAA All-Freshman Team and Conference USA Golfer-of-the-Year honors. Clinard left his post at UCF following the 2008-09 season to take the helm at Auburn.

    "Blayne (Barber) is a wonderful kid on and off the golf course," said Clinard. "He is an excellent student and brings a winning attitude and a winning record to our program. Assistant coach Evan Osteen and I were thrilled to see him choose Auburn."

    Barber concluded his freshman season with eight consecutive top-10 finishes that included a win at the Rio Pinar Invitational, two runner-up finishes and a tie for seventh at the NCAA Championship. The All-American also finished the season with a team leading 71.14 scoring average.

    Clinard, who left his post at UCF to take the helm of the Auburn men's golf program, has not only coached Barber collegiately, but is also his personal swing coach.

     

     

    "Coach (Clinard) is the same as always," said Barber. "He was a great guy when recruiting me, coaching me at Central Florida and now here in Auburn. We've had great relationship. I definitely feel like I can get better by working with him. He's a great swing coach."

    Few locales in the country can match the variety and number of courses in the Auburn area. Named in 2005 as Golf Digest's "top American metropolitan area for golf," Auburn has provided Barber with new and challenging courses to help improve his game.

    "I'd say my favorite course to play here is Saugahatchee Country Club, but I like them all," said Barber. "From a `just a working on your game' standpoint, I'd say the AU Club. It's a tough course. I'm definitely happy to be here. It feels like I should have been here all along."

    World Amateur Golf Rankings Top-10

    1. Matteo ManasseroITA1351.61

    2. Victor DubuissonFRA1302.17

    3. Nick TaylorCAN1292.21 (Washington)

    4. Peter UihleinUSA1257.14 (Oklahoma State)

    5. Morgan HoffmannUSA1240.58 (Oklahoma State)

    6. Bud CauleyUSA1233.33 (Alabama)

    7. Matt HillCAN1190.91 (NC State)

    8. Russell HenleyUSA1109.43 (Georgia)

    9. Blayne BarberUSA1097.78 (Auburn)

    10. David ChungUSA1079.78 (Stanford)

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