March 30, 2008

CHARLESTON, S.C. - UAB's Zach Sucher shot a final-round 73 to hold off defending champion Webb Simpson and win the Azalea Invitational Amateur Title on Sunday afternoon.

Sucher is No. 45 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings. He finished fourth at last year's NCAA Division I Men's Championship, and won the 2007 Cardinal Amateur. He is No. 63 in the Golfweek/Scratch Players World Amateur Rankings.

Sucher finished at even-par 284 at the Country Club of Charleston (S.C.). Simpson finished second at 2-over 286 after a final-round 70. Oklahoma State teammates Trent Leon and Kevin Tway finished third at 8-over par.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo finished T-34 at 19-over 303, a shot ahead of former U.S. Amateur runner-up and Walker Cup captain Buddy Marucci. Romo shot 2-under 69 in the third round.

Sucher will help lead the Blazers into the Bank of America Intercollegiate on April 7-8. It will mark the final tune up for the 2008 Conference USA Championships on April 20-22, in Texarkana, Ark.