June 15, 2008

LUBBOCK, Texas - Recording his worst round of the U.S. Open Saturday obviously did not sit well for former Texas Tech golfer Andrew Dresser as he stormed back with a vengeance to record his best round of the event at one-over par 72 and jump up nine spots in the final standings as he wrapped up his first major with a bang Sunday.

Dresser finished the event at 16-over par 300 and tied for 71st overall in one of professional golf's most elite events played on a difficult course, the famed Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif.

Coming into the event, Dresser's goal was to make the "cut" and to be able to play during the last two days of the tournament. He accomplished that by recording a solid round of 73 Friday to be able to earn a chance to play among some of game's greats. After struggling through a rough day and sub-par weather Saturday, the Carrollton, Texas, native proved Sunday he is not only capable of playing among the greats, but that he can also hold his own with them.

Sunday's tee time came early for Dresser as he hit the links for an early 7 a.m. PST start. Things did not look particularly promising for the former All-American in the early going as he double bogeyed the first hole. Dresser bounced back strong by birdying the next hole and shooting par on the following two holes. A pair of bogies on five and six set him back momentarily, but he once again rebounded with a birdie and a pair of par holes to bounce back up set some momentum at the turn.

The back nine is where Dresser settled into a groove as he breezed through the challenging back nine at one-under 35. Included in that were back-to-back birdies that followed a bogey on 12. After birdying a challenging par-five 13th hole, Dresser three shot his way to a birdie on 14 and then shot par over each of the final four holes to end his first major on a strong note.

Dresser will now look to ride the confidence of holding his own among some of the game's greats as he continues play in a slew of events that he is scheduled to play in over the next few weeks. His quest is to eventually earn a spot next the greats he played with, on the PGA tour.