Virginia Tech's Weaver Opens With 76 At British Open

Rising junior sits at five over par after first day in Scotland

July 20, 2007

From Virginia Tech Athletics

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland - Virginia Tech golfer Drew Weaver shot an opening round five-over-par 76 in the 2007 British Open Championship on Thursday morning. The 136^th Open Championship is being played at the 7,421-yard, par 71 Carnoustie Golf Links in Carnoustie, Scotland.

Weaver, a rising junior from High Point, N.C., birdied his first two holes of the round, played in rainy and windy conditions on the northeast coast of Scotland. Former U.S. Open champ Michael Campbell held the clubhouse lead at 68 at the time Weaver completed his round. Weaver was even par after his first nine holes.

Weaver is one of six amateurs and the only American amateur in the field of 156. Weaver won exemption into the Open Championship with his win in the 2007 British Amateur in June. This is the ninth time the Open Championship has been played at Carnoustie, the most recent time being 1999.

Weaver was in a group that included Briton Paul Casey and Canadian Stephen Ames. Casey shot one-over-par 72 and Ames shot 10-over-par 81 in Thursday's first round. The trio will be grouped again for Friday's round, which begins at 1:42 p.m. local time (8:42 a.m. EDT).

The Open Championship is being broadcast live on TNT at 7 a.m. EDT on all four days and on ABC, beginning at 9 a.m., on Saturday and Sunday. Live scoring and news of the event is available at http://www.opengolf.com. A blog featuring Weaver and U.S. Amateur champion, Richie Ramsay of Scotland, is available at http://www.opengolf.com/news/displayNewsItem.sps?id=60006064.

A link to live scoring is also be available on hokiesports.com. Hokiesports.com will have daily recaps of Weaver's rounds and other pertinent information for the Open Championship.