Aug. 18, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Four University of North Carolina golfers begin play today in the 108th U.S. Amateur Championship at Pinehurst, N.C. Barden Berry, Reed Darsie, Jack Fields and Kevin O'Connell will tee it up at the No. 2 and No. 4 courses in Pinehurst.

Berry, an outgoing senior from Kinston, N.C., begins on the No. 2 course at 8:10 a.m. off the first tee. He was a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar in 2007 and 2008 and was selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America At-Large Third Team after carding four top-20 finishes this year on his way to a 73.56 stroke average.

Darsie, an outgoing senior from Chapel Hill, tees off at 2:25 p.m. off the 10th tee at the No. 2 course. He carded three top-25 finishes this spring for the Tar Heels. Darsie played in last year's U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.

Fields, an incoming freshman from Southern Pines, begins on the No. 4 course at 9:10 a.m. off the first tee. He is a 2006 American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) All-America from Pinecrest High School who captured two AJGA championships in 2006. Fields advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2007 U.S. Junior Amateur after qualifying for the event for three consecutive years.

O'Connell, a rising sophomore from Cary, N.C., begins play on the No. 4 course at 7:50 a.m. off the first tee. The 2008 ACC Freshman of the Year posted a perfect record and garnered MVP honors representing the United States in the Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship at Tokyo Golf Club in mid-July. O'Connell was selected to the PING All-America Third Team and was also named to the All-ACC squad.

Two rounds of stroke play will be played Monday and Tuesday at which point the field will be cut to the low 64 scorers. Match play begins Wednesday concluding on Sunday with a 36-hole final.