Sam Cyr, a 20-year-old All-American Point Loma Nazarene University freshman golfer has been selected as one of eight players to the USA team against China in the inaugural Friendship Cup Match from July 27 to 29 at Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, Calif.
“It is certainly a great honor to represent my country and my university in the event. I thank God for giving me the ability to play golf,” Cyr said.
Cyr is the only player from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to qualify for the event. There are four players from Division I, and one each from the Division II, III, NAIA and Junior College levels. The entire team is comprised of true freshmen.
“The Friendship Cup is sponsored by the Golf Coaches of America who met in Hutchinson, Kan., and decided the format for the event and they decided to select only true freshmen to the American team,” PLNU Golf Coach Ben Foster said.
The Friendship Cup will take place every two years. The 2008 cup will be held in China to coincide with the summer Olympics.
“When the players were selected, he’s the type of player and person they felt could represent the USA in a great fashion,” Foster said. “They wanted good kids who are also good golfers and Sam stood out.”
Despite being a freshman, Cyr led the PLNU team with the lowest stroke average over the fall and spring seasons at 73.5.
“I think PLNU is a great place,” Cyr said. “I wanted to play for a small Christian university, represent God and play golf. I’m hoping the tournament is just the start of bigger things to come.”