Hilton Head Sports

Upon graduating from Bucknell University, 2012 Hilton Head Christian Academy graduate Nick Bybel will also be the recipient and male winner of the Christy Mathewson Award, presented annually to the outstanding athlete in the senior class. Bybel was also recently named to the All-Patriot League First Team for the fourth straight year, the first Bucknell player so honored in the 26-year history of the league. His only loss in league play this year came against Navy in a match in which he retired because of an injury.

Responding to concerns from the public and data collected by S.C. Department of Natural Resources biologists, the South Carolina General Assembly has passed legislation to help rebuild the state’s cobia fishery. The new cobia regulations, which are effective for the 2016 season after receiving Gov. Nikki Haley's signature, included a catch-and-release period in May and smaller bag and boat limits the rest of the year.

Old South Golf Links has become the second club in the South Carolina Lowcountry to gain the GEO Certified ecolabel. This coveted mark not only recognizes the club’s work to protect the nature for which its known, but also its efficient use of resources and its strong community links.

Branden Grace has had his share of big moments. He believes winning the RBC Heritage is his biggest, by far. The 27-year-old South African had won 10 times overseas, finished in the top five last year in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, and went 5-0 for the International team at the Presidents Cup. In the final round of the 2016 RBC Heritage, he shot a 5-under 66 to overtake Luke Donald for his first title on the PGA Tour.

Five Hilton Head Preparatory School athletes recently signed letters of intent to play athletics for collegiate programs. Sam Fried will play tennis at Mercer University. Dylan Day will play golf at Thomas University. Christian Garruppo will play golf at McDaniel College. Alejandro Becker will play tennis at Swanee-University of the South. Jack Foyle will play golf at the College of Charleston. 

For the second time in three years, Hilton Head Island High School athletic director Joe Monmonier has been named the Class AAA Region 8 Athletic Director of the Year by the South Carolina Athletic Directors Association. Monmonier’s recognition was recently announced at a state awards breakfast in Charleston. He received the same award in 2014, only two years after taking over as his school’s athletic director in 2012.

Storm Soccer Academy recently announced that Juan Zuniga made the Under-15 Boys’ National Team roster. Only 20 athletes were selected for the team. Zuniga, from Bluffton, is a member of Storm’s ‘01 Boys Black Team. He has played with Storm since its inception in 2010. Zuniga, 13, attends River Ridge Academy.

Hilton Head Island junior golfer Andrew Orischak was one of 54 participants to compete in the 2016 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club presented by Electrolux April 21-23 in Graniteville. Recognized as one of the premier junior players in the world, Orischak was invited to participate in the prestigious event that attracts many of the game’s top-ranked junior golfers from around the globe on an annual basis.

The Faldo Series, the global circuit of junior events created by six-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo, has appointed the International Junior Golf Academy as its official golf academy partner. Rory McIlroy and fellow multiple Major champion and World No. 1 Tseng Ya-ni are among past winners on the Faldo Series, which was founded in 1996 and is supported by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Recognized as the only global amateur series for boys and girls, the annual circuit features thousands of young golfers competing in 40 tournaments in over 30 countries across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North and South America.