University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Apyan Cards Course-Record at Mazatlan Open
5/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Former Southern Miss men's golfer Paul Apyan set the course record at the Mazatlan Open at Estrella del Mar on the PGA TOUR Latinoamerica. The former Golden Eagle carded a 10-under par round of 62 to set the course record in his opening round on Thursday, May 26.
Apyan posted nine birdies in his round to go along with an eagle with just one bogey.
He opened his round on the 10th hole with back-to-back pars before dipping under par with a birdie on the 12th hole. After a par on 13, Apyan birdied the next five holes to make the turn at -6.
The former Golden Eagles opened his second nine with an eagle on the par-5 first hole. Apyan had back-to-back pars before his only blemish on his card. He responded to the bogey on four with a birdie on five. Apyan closed out his record-setting round with par, birdie, birdie, par.
Apyan earned his PGA Tour Latinoamerica card earlier this year when he finished tied for second in the PTLA Qualifying Tournament for the United States. The event took place at the Sun N' Lake Golf Club in Sebring, Fla. The Chattanooga, Tenn., native finished the qualifying tournament in a three-way tie for second place as he shot an eight-under 280 in the four-round event. His stroke total of 67 during the final round was the lowest score among the field for that day.
Apyan, who lettered for the Golden Eagles from 2007-10, returned to the PGA Tour Latinoamerica for the second time with his overall goal of reaching the PGA Tour here in the United States in the near future.
During his stint at Southern Miss, Apyan earned first-team All-Conference USA honors during his senior campaign as well as earning a spot to the league's All-Academic team. He earned C-USA all-tournament honors during the 2007-08 season and was a league Player of the Week once during his collegiate career. In addition, he was a two-time Academic All-American.