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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women’s Golf Names Zack Byrd Assistant Coach
1/10/2019 | Women's Golf
Byrd Comes to Oxford with 10 Years of Professional Playing Experience
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss women's golf has hired Zack Byrd as the program's assistant coach, head coach Kory Henkes announced Thursday.
Byrd, who spent 10 years as a professional golfer, most recently served as an assistant coach at Colorado State.
"I am thrilled to welcome Zack, along with his wife Ali, and daughters Payton and Avery, to the Ole Miss family," Henkes said. "Zack is a proven player at the highest level, and his abundance of knowledge will certainly be an asset for our team. His years of playing professionally provides our players with a distinct insight into the game and will also give them skills to help take their abilities to the next level."
During his time at Colorado State, Byrd helped the Rams post their best fall three-round average (292.1) since at least 2011. CSU won the Ron Moore Women's Intercollegiate last fall with a four-under 860, the second lowest three-round score in program history. Colorado State had four top-10 individual finishes in their four fall tournaments in 2018.
"My family and I are extremely excited about joining the Ole Miss family," Byrd said. "Coach Henkes has built a winning tradition over the last few years, and I am very appreciative to her for allowing me to join her staff."
Prior to joining Colorado State, Byrd spent 10 years as a professional golfer, most recently playing on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa. On the Sunshine Tour in 2017, he posted a 70.98 stroke average with seven top-20 finishes and three top-10s, including a second-place finish at the Investec Royal Swazi Open carding a 63 in the final round to break into the Top-700 of the world rankings. Following his finish and runner-up for the tour's Rookie of the Year honor, he gained full status for the 2018 season, finishing 44th on the money list while making the cut at the 2018 BMW SA Open.
Byrd qualified for the Canadian PGA Tour in 2015 and also competed on the PGA's China and Latin America tours. Byrd held conditional status with the Web.com Tour in 2014, as well as the Nationwide Tour in 2012 and Web.com Tour in 2013 after again making the final stage of Q School.
Byrd began his pro career with numerous wins and top-10 finishes on mini tour circuits in Southeast U.S. and nationwide in PGA sectional events. In 2011, he qualified and competed in the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club, while also making the final stage of the PGA Tour's Q School.
Byrd is a 2009 graduate of Coastal Carolina University where he was a five-year member of the men's golf team. As a freshman, he won the Big South Conference individual championship and was named Big South Freshman of the Year. During his time at Coastal, he helped the Chanticleers to three NCAA Championship berths alongside PGA Tour member and 2016 U.S. Open Champion Dustin Johnson.
Following an injury, Byrd posted his best season of collegiate golf as a senior, breaking the school record with a nine-under 63 in a round. That same year, he was the Big South Player of the Year and Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while being named third team All-American by PING and Golfweek. He was also a two-time GCAA All-America Scholar in his junior and senior seasons. In 2015, he was inducted in the Coastal Carolina Hall of Fame.
"With the new golf facility and support Ole Miss gives their student-athletes, I think there is no limit to where this team can go," Byrd said. "We can't wait to get to Oxford. Hotty Toddy."
Follow Ole Miss women's golf on Twitter (@OleMissWGolf), Facebook and Instagram. For more information, visit www.OleMissSports.com.
Byrd, who spent 10 years as a professional golfer, most recently served as an assistant coach at Colorado State.
"I am thrilled to welcome Zack, along with his wife Ali, and daughters Payton and Avery, to the Ole Miss family," Henkes said. "Zack is a proven player at the highest level, and his abundance of knowledge will certainly be an asset for our team. His years of playing professionally provides our players with a distinct insight into the game and will also give them skills to help take their abilities to the next level."
During his time at Colorado State, Byrd helped the Rams post their best fall three-round average (292.1) since at least 2011. CSU won the Ron Moore Women's Intercollegiate last fall with a four-under 860, the second lowest three-round score in program history. Colorado State had four top-10 individual finishes in their four fall tournaments in 2018.
"My family and I are extremely excited about joining the Ole Miss family," Byrd said. "Coach Henkes has built a winning tradition over the last few years, and I am very appreciative to her for allowing me to join her staff."
Prior to joining Colorado State, Byrd spent 10 years as a professional golfer, most recently playing on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa. On the Sunshine Tour in 2017, he posted a 70.98 stroke average with seven top-20 finishes and three top-10s, including a second-place finish at the Investec Royal Swazi Open carding a 63 in the final round to break into the Top-700 of the world rankings. Following his finish and runner-up for the tour's Rookie of the Year honor, he gained full status for the 2018 season, finishing 44th on the money list while making the cut at the 2018 BMW SA Open.
Byrd qualified for the Canadian PGA Tour in 2015 and also competed on the PGA's China and Latin America tours. Byrd held conditional status with the Web.com Tour in 2014, as well as the Nationwide Tour in 2012 and Web.com Tour in 2013 after again making the final stage of Q School.
Byrd began his pro career with numerous wins and top-10 finishes on mini tour circuits in Southeast U.S. and nationwide in PGA sectional events. In 2011, he qualified and competed in the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club, while also making the final stage of the PGA Tour's Q School.
Byrd is a 2009 graduate of Coastal Carolina University where he was a five-year member of the men's golf team. As a freshman, he won the Big South Conference individual championship and was named Big South Freshman of the Year. During his time at Coastal, he helped the Chanticleers to three NCAA Championship berths alongside PGA Tour member and 2016 U.S. Open Champion Dustin Johnson.
Following an injury, Byrd posted his best season of collegiate golf as a senior, breaking the school record with a nine-under 63 in a round. That same year, he was the Big South Player of the Year and Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while being named third team All-American by PING and Golfweek. He was also a two-time GCAA All-America Scholar in his junior and senior seasons. In 2015, he was inducted in the Coastal Carolina Hall of Fame.
"With the new golf facility and support Ole Miss gives their student-athletes, I think there is no limit to where this team can go," Byrd said. "We can't wait to get to Oxford. Hotty Toddy."
Follow Ole Miss women's golf on Twitter (@OleMissWGolf), Facebook and Instagram. For more information, visit www.OleMissSports.com.
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