Aug. 18, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Barden Berry, who just completed his senior season for the Tar Heels, fired a two-under-par 68 and is currently tied for third place after the first round of stroke play at the 108th U.S. Amateur Championship. Kevin O'Connell, a sophomore for the Tar Heels, carded a two-over 72 while freshman Jack Fields shot three-over 73 as did Reed Darsie, who just completed his senior year.

Berry's 68 and Darsie's 73 came on Pinehurst's No. 2 course while O'Connell's and Fields' first rounds came on the No. 4 course. Berry, from Kinston, N.C., began his round on the 10th tee and carded birdies on holes 12 and 13. He posted two more birdies on the front along with two bogies for his two-under 68 total. O'Connell, from Cary, N.C., began with one bogey and three birdies on the front side before struggling with two double-bogies on the back (holes 11 and 16) to finish at two-over 72 in a tie for 63rd place. Fields and Darsie both shot three-over 73 and are tied for 90th. Fields, from Southern Pines, N.C., was two-over on the front followed by one-over on the back for his three-over 73 total. Darsie, from Chapel Hill, played the back side in two-over and finished on the front side with a one-over on Pinehurst's No. 2.

Wesley Bryan, a freshman at South Carolina, and Andrew Putnam, a sophomore at Pepperdine, are atop the leaderboard after the first round of stroke play at three-under-par 67. Bryan played the No. 2 course on Monday while Putnam played the No. 4 course.

The second round of stroke play will be played on Tuesday at Pinehurst's No. 2 and No. 4 courses and the low 64 scorers will advance on to match play which begins on Wednesday. The champion will be crowned Sunday after a 36-hole final.