Clyburn-Leberte earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Four-Ball Championship
Cartersville golfer R.B. Clyburn and partner McLain Leberte of Roswell were medalists Monday and qualified for the 2024 U.S.G.A. Four Ball Championship.
The qualifying event was held at Berkeley Hills Country Club in Duluth and included 51, two-man teams seeking one of two spots in the U.S. Four-Ball Championship May 25-29, 2024 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club.
Clyburn and Leberte combined Monday for a 6-under-par 66 on the 6,670-yard Berkeley Hills course and finished the 18-hole qualifier tied with three other teams. The four-way tie sent all eight players to a playoff for two spots in the national tournament.
Clyburn made the only birdie on the first playoff hole securing one of the spots.
The team of West Streib (Brookhaven) and Chris Blackburn (Evans) won the final spot with a birdie on the third playoff hole.
The remaining two teams in the playoff — Ryan Morley-Stockton (Woodstock)/Jonathan Klotz (Atlanta) and Matt Mitchell (Burns)/Ben Fisher (Eads) will be alternates in Philadelphia.
In their qualifying round, Clyburn and Leberte both made a bogey on No. 1 then reeled off seven birdies over the remaining 17 holes. Clyburn broke the ice making birdies on holes 2, 6, 7, 10, 15, and 18. Leberte, who was an All-American at the University of South Alabama, made a key par on No. 4 and contributed a birdie on No. 9.
Earning the qualifying spot continues a strong 2023 season for Clyburn. He currently leads the Georgia PGA Section’s Amateur Player of the Year standings. He was runner-up at the Yamaha Atlanta Open in June and The Championship at Berkeley Hills in July. He then tied for sixth at the Milton Martin Honda Classic in Gainesville in September. His finishes at Berkeley Hills and the Honda Classic earned low amateur honors at those events.
In GSGA events, Clyburn teamed with Christina Surcey of Cartersville to win the Mixed Team Championship in March at Sea Island Golf Club. He also won the Georgia Match Play Championship in August at Old Toccoa Farm in Mineral Bluff.
Clyburn also teamed with partner Dalton Melnyk of Atlanta for a runner-up finish at the Georgia Four-Ball Championship in April at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta. In addition, he had Top 30 finishes at the Georgia Amateur Championship and Georgia Mid-Amateur Championship.
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