Official Website of Bryce McConnel Burke.
August 2016
I played in five events for Arkansas Tech in the summer season from February to end of April. We travelled as far as Las Vegas Nevada as well as Breeze in Florida. I had mixed fortunes in the games and my driver was a bit wayward off the tee thus leaving me to fight to save par rather than for birdies.
Although our team did not secure a place for the NCAA Nationals at the Regional Championships in Michigan I managed to secure an individual spot as a result of my 3rd place finish at NCAA Regional's. The weather was atrocious with terrible wind and rain. I was lying 17th after Day 1 with a score of 72 and on Day 2 recorded a 75 to be placed in 13th place. I did not think I would place in the top three but I managed to fend off the wind and rain and post the low round of the day with a 73 despite these conditions. As a result I climbed ten places to finish third and earned a spot into the NCAA Div II Nationals which was held at Green Valley Golf Club in Denver Colorado. Nan Ryan, founder of Pepsi Littlepeoples made a two hour journey to come and watch me play. I really appreciated her kind gesture.
I believe I played well despite my scores and I lost 12 shots on 4 holes over the first two days courtesy of a quadruple and three double bogeys on Day 1. I had two triples on Day 2 on the two of the same holes and was really frustrating. I also could not drop a putt with thirteen putts lipping out. I posted rounds of 77-76-74 = 227 to finish 81st from 160 qualified players from all over the country.
At the annual Great American Conference awards I picked up the awards for Freshman of the Year, Player of the Year as well as GAC All Star player. Later in May I was selected to the NCAA DIv II Regional Team which was an honor for me. Please see my Highlights and News section on my website.
I went home for summer vacations to Florida to mom and dad. Here I played in the US Amateur qualifier as well Florida Open Qualifier. I played exceptionally well in the Florida Qualifier to win the event with a score of 69 to advance to the Florida Open against many professionals from around the country. I did not do well in the Open missing the cut by two shots for the final day. In the USA Amateur my poor run of form saw me record a 78 for 17th place finish which was three shots shy of a qualifying spot. Now that my wisdom teeth are out I am hoping to have better autumn of 2016.
