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Saturday, November 25, 2006

JAMES BYRNE SIGNS UP FOR
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Arizona State University men's golf coach Randy Lein has announced that James Byrne of Banchory has signed a letter-of-intent with Arizona State and will join the Sun Devil programme next autumn.
Byrne is one of the most accomplished young golfers in Europe and he capped a very good 2006 season by winning his first Scottish Golf Union men’s Order of Merit 72-hole tournament in September.
That was the Newlands Trophy at Lanark where he shot a nine-under-par total of 271 (68-66-71-66) to win by four strokes.
"I first saw James play this past July at the European boys’ championship and my first impression of him was that of a champion," said Randy Lein, now in his 15th year at the helm of the Arizona State University golf programme, one of the best in America.
"Confident people handle themselves in a special way and James has that look. He had a very successful summer and his game improved a lot from June to September. He will be a great addition to our program."
Byrne also became the youngest winner of the North-east District youth championships at Newburgh this past June as a 16-year-old. He equalled the course record of five-under-par 67 in the first round and went on to win the title by five shots.
James also won the Faldo Series Scottish Regional Qualifier (under-17) with a one-under 71 in June of 2006 at Blairgowrie G.C.
He set or tied course records this past summer at Hazlehead Golf Club with a 64 en route to winning the NE District Boys Under-18 title.
Byrne has already been a winner in the United States. He earned medalist honors at the Texas Junior Golf Tour in December of 2005 with a 2-under 214 (73-70-71).During the year, James helped Scotland to win the boys’ home internationals at Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth and he represented Great Britain & Ireland in the Jacques Leglise Trophy match against the Continent of Europe.
Byrne’s foursomes partner in the internationals, Lewis Kirton (Newmachar) has since enrolled at the University of Louisville, Kentucky.