Hoosier alumnus ties for 70th in British Open

Hoosier alumnus Jeff Overton completed play in the 137th Open Championship on Sunday in Southport, England.

Overton finished with a nine-over par final round and ended the tournament in a tie for 70th place at 21-over par.

Overton graduated from IU in 2005 and has been playing professional golf ever since. He has earned a total of about $2 million on the PGA tour.

While at IU, Overton earned two All-American honors and was twice named Big Ten Golfer of the Year.

The tournament held at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club was Overton’s first appearance in a major tournament in his golf career.

Padraig Harrington took the Claret Jug for winning the tournament with a 3-over par final score of 283 over four rounds.

Going into play, Overton’s main goal was to make the cut after two rounds, which he did. His coach at IU, Mike Mayer, said this might be Overton’s first major, but it won’t be his last.

The next major, which Mayer said he thinks Overton has a good chance of qualifying for, will be the 2008 PGA Championship, held Aug. 7-10 at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.