Kevin O'Connell
Kevin O'Connell

Player Profile
Class:
Sophomore

Hometown:
Cary, N.C.

High School:
Green Hope

Height:
5-11

General Info: Majoring in History ... 2008 ACC Freshman of the Year and selected to the All-ACC team .. selected to the 2008 PING All-America Third Team and the 2008 PING All-South Region Team ... selected to the All-Freshman Team.

Fall 2008: A starter in three of Carolina's four tournaments ... tied for sixth place at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate and tied for 10th at the Maryland Intercollegiate ... did not play in the Carpet Capital Collegiate due to a personal commitment ... carded two rounds in the 60s and posted par or better in five of eight rounds ... his low round was 67 which he carded in the first round of the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate ... concluded the fall campaign with a 71.13 stroke average ... tied for 20th place at 2008 Western Refining All-America Golf Classic in El Paso, Texas.

2007-08: Starter in all 11 of Carolina's tournaments ... carded nine top-15 and seven top-10 finishes ... was the low Tar Heel in seven of Carolina's 11 events ... in the fall, he tied for fourth place at the VCU Shootout, tied for sixth place at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, tied for seventh at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at The Ridges and tied for 15th at the UNCG Bridgestone Collegiate Championship ... in the spring he posted four top-10 finishes - a tie for third place at the Seminole Intercollegiate, a tie for sixth at the ACC Championship, a tie for eighth at the Administaff Augusta State Invitational and a tie for ninth place at the Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational ... carded 10 rounds in the 60s and posted par or better in 21 of 32 rounds ... his low round was 66 which he carded on two occasions - in the second round of both the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate and the Seminole Intercollegiate ... concluded his freshman campaign with a 71.66 stroke average.

Amateur: Selected MVP of the 2008 Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship played at Tokyo Golf Club ... his perfect record of three wins and 208 total led the U.S. to a 37-23 win over Japan ... medalist at 2008 U.S. Amateur sectional qualifier; lost in the first round of match play at the U.S. Amateur ... lost in the semifinals of the 2008 North and South Amateur ... runner-up at 2007 Eastern Amateur ... runner-up at 2006 Scott Robertson Memorial ... champion of 2004 AJGA Richmond Junior ... advanced to the final 16 at the 2004 U.S. Junior Championship ... won 2003 AJGA Nike Golf Junior All-Star Classic in Jacksonville and tied for second at Nike Golf Junior All-Star Classic at Colonial presented by Miss. Farm Bureau ... carded 11 top-25 finishes in AJGA events during his junior career.

Prep: Four-time golf letterman at Green Hope High School ... four-time all-conference ... two-time all-state, as a sophomore and senior ... 2007 North Carolina High School State Champion.

More on O'Connell
Birthdate: July 9, 1988
Career competitive round: 64, 2008 U.S. Amateur sectional qualifier at Salisbury Country Club in Midlothian, Va. and 1999 Mid Pines Invitational
Favorite course: Pinehurst #2, Pinehurst, N.C.
Favorite golfer: Tiger Woods
Favorite athlete: Muhammad Ali
Favorite food: Steak and french fries
Favorite TV show: Entourage
Favorite movie: The Dark Knight
Favorite vacation spot: Southern California
Favorite musical performers: Lil Wayne
CDs most likely on my iPOD: Tha Carter III by Lil Wayne
My greatest sports moment: Representing the United States in the USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship last summer
I have these superstitions: I use the same quarter to mark my ball in every round
Why I chose Carolina: The facilities, coaches and tradition
Person in history I'd most like to meet: Barack Obama
My most prized possession: My iPOD
Post-school ambition: Professional golf
The best thing about going to school at Carolina is: Walking around the beautiful campus every day
The best part about being a Tar Heel golfer is: The opportunity to represent UNC in athletic competitions
The best thing about Coach Inman is: His ability to see what each guy on the team needs to improve as a person and golfer
The funniest thing Coach Inman says all the time: You got it.
Person with whom I would like to play a round of golf: Tiger Woods