The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Osborn Hints At Breakout Season With Summer Success
7/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
July 25, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - All-Conference men's golfer Garrett Osborn hasn't been resting on his laurels after an outstanding sophomore season for Alan Kaufman's UAB Blazers. The Birmingham native recently highlighted a whirl wind summer playing tour which has him primed for yet another breakthrough season for the Blazers.
Osborn finished 11th in the 47th Annual Porter Cup in Niagara Falls, N.Y. over the weekend. The Porter Cup is one of the oldest and most storied international amateur tournaments on the summer circuit. Past champions include Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Scott Verplank and Ben Crenshaw. Osborn fired a 66 in Friday's third round to vault into the top-10 before drifting out in Saturday's final round.
"I've just kind of minimized a lot of my mistakes in my game," Osborn said, en route to U.S. Amateur qualifying in Pensacola, Fla., which takes place Tuesday. "I haven't been taking a lot of big numbers and my short game has kind of been there for me, so it's been good."
Osborn finished in second at the Southern Amateur, played July 13-17 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. He shot a two-under-par 278 and was just one stroke from forcing a playoff with tournament winner and Wake Forest golfer Webb Simpson. Osborn rallied after a two-over on the front nine in the final round to close the gap and take runners-up honors.
The Mountain Brook High School product also notched a top five finish at the Dogwood Invitational Golf Tournament, played June 27-July 1 at Atlanta's Druid Hills Golf Club. His 12-under, 276 for the four rounds included a career-best 65 in the first round.
"Some of these summer events really help you," Osborn said. "You get to play with guys who are the really good amateurs out there. The only chance you get to see them during the college season is at NCAA Regionals or Nationals, for the most part. In summer tournaments, you get to really test yourself against the nation's best."
After U.S. Amateur qualifying, Osborn will defend his Alabama State Match Play title Aug. 10-13 at Steelwood Golf Club in Loxley, Ala.
Osborn was named First Team All-Conference USA this spring after capping off an outstanding freshman year with a fifth place finish in the C-USA Tournament. He is the younger brother of former UAB All-Conference men's golfer Peyton Osborn.
