July 16, 2008

AUBURN - The United States won three matches and halved another to claim a 7-5 lead after the first round of the 33rd annual Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship at the Tokyo Golf Club. Auburn freshman Cydney Clanton shot 5-under 69 and with Jessica Yadloczky, defeated Yumi Takabayashi and Hiroko Ayada.

Team USA got off to a quick start when Kevin O'Connell shot 4-under and he and Zack Sucher dominated the opening match, winning 140-153. 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 4-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 5-under-par 69 propelled her and Jessica Yadloczky, of the University of Florida, to a 146-151 victory.

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

Round Two Pairings
Ryan Spears, USA vs. Shintaro Kobayashi, Japan
Sam Cyr, USA vs. Hiroki Abe, Japan
Kevin O'Connell, USA vs. Hiroki Nishida, Japan
Brent Witcher, USA vs. Daisuke Okabe, Japan
Andrew Putnam, USA vs. Shunsuke Sonoda, Japan
Chis Wolfe, USA vs. Yoshihiro Kamei, Japan
Nick Bova, USA vs. Tomohiro Wakabayashi, Japan
Zack Sucher, USA vs. Yuki Usami, Japan
Jessica Yadloczky, USA vs. Hiroko Ayada, Japan
Lizette Salas, USA vs. Nanae Shinzato, Japan
Sydnee Michaels, USA vs. Kaori Azuma, Japan
Cydney Clanton, USA vs. Yumi Takabayashi, Japan