Murrells Inlet’s Byrd finding some success on road as state open vagabond

Zack Byrd of Murrells Inlet is on a virtual tour of the United States this summer as he bounces from one state open to the next in an attempt to earn some money and keep his game sharp.

In the past six weeks, Byrd has played in open tournaments or qualifiers for them in Massachusetts, Wyoming, Colorado and Iowa, and was traveling Monday from Iowa back to Colorado for the Colorado Open.

He is having some success after a relatively slow start.

His travels began in May when he flew north for a qualifier in Massachusetts, and he tied for 26th in the Mass Open from June 13-15 at Worcester Country Club with a 6-over 71-76-69–216 for a minor payday.

He tied for fourth in the Wyoming State Open on July 10 at Airport Golf Club in Cheyenne, Wyo., with a score of 9-under 71-67-63–201 and earned $2,356, and flew to Colorado for a qualifier July 12 at Eagle Ranch in Eagle, Colo., where he shot 69 to tie for fifth.

He then flew to Iowa for the Waterloo Open at the Irv Warren, Gates Park and South Hills courses in Waterloo. The tournament concluded Sunday, and Byrd shot a 17-under 68-67-64–199 to finish 10th and earn $3,350.

So he has closed with rounds of 63 and 64 in his past two tournaments. “I’ve hit it well the last two weeks. I just haven’t putted well the last two first rounds,” Byrd said.

The Colorado Open is Thursday through Sunday at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver.

He returns home Monday, but still has scheduled the Iowa Open from Aug. 14-16 at Lake Panorama National Golf Course in Panora, Iowa, Nebraska Open from Sept. 9-11 at Elks Country Club in Columbus, Neb., and New Mexico Open from Sept. 13-15 at Sandia Resort & Casino Golf Club in Albuquerque, N.M.

Massachusetts and Colorado were the only state opens that had qualifiers. The other tournaments he has entered required only registration.

Byrd is traveling for two weeks with Cody Martin, a friend from Kentucky who is also playing. Martin tied for 18th in Wyoming and tied for 51st Sunday among the 55 players who made the cut in the Waterloo Open.

Entry fees for the state opens are generally manageable. The Waterloo Open was the most at about $1,000, but that included a caddie in the pro-am and the purse was $192,000 with $55,000 to the winner.

Iowa and Colorado are about $600 each, Wyoming was $325, Massachusetts was $300 and both Nebraska and New Mexico are $300-$400 or so.

“Entry fees are pretty cheap,” said Byrd, who owns a small travel agency. “It’s less expensive than playing on any tour, and I’m pretty good at keeping expenses down. I’ve gotten pretty good at being poor.”

The Colorado Open has the top purse of all state opens, Byrd said, with $250,000 up for grabs including $100,000 to the winner.

Byrd is hoping all the traveling and tournament play will have him prepared for a likely run at the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament in the fall.

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 8:10 PM with the headline "Murrells Inlet’s Byrd finding some success on road as state open vagabond."