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Chris Zambri, a former USC All-Pac-10 performer and longtime Nationwide Tour veteran, is in his third year as USC's men's golf head coach. After a highly successful 2007-2008 season, Zambri was named the 2008 GCAA National, the Pacific Region and the Pac-10 Coach of the Year. The honors came on the heels of a stellar campaign that saw USC finish just three strokes short of winning its first-ever NCAA title. As it was, USC finished third at the NCAA Championships (something Troy hadn't done since 1975). USC won four tournaments on the season (all within its final seven events), including its first ever NCAA Regional championship. Troy also tied for first at the Pac-10 Championships (but fell in a playoff). Sophomores Jame Lovemark and Rory Hie were tabbed as All-American first teamers while junior Tom Glissmeyer and freshmen Tim Sluiter and Matthew Giles all earned All-American honorable mention honors. It was the first time in school history USC featured five All-Americans. Lovemark and Hie also marked the first time USC had two All-American first teamers in one season. In his first season as head coach, Zambri guided USC to an appearance in the 2007 NCAA Championships and the Trojans' 18th Pac-10 team title. At the NCAA Championships, Lovemark, then a freshman, became Troy's fourth NCAA individual champion. Lovemark earned the Arnold Palmer (national championship individual medalist), Jack Nicklaus (national player of the year) and Phil Mickelson (nation's outstanding freshman) Awards and was tabbed a Ping All-American first teamer. Lovemark earlier became USC's 20th Pac-10 individual champion while four other Trojans finished in the top 10 en route to the team crown. Lovemark was named Pac-10 Co-Golfer and Freshman of the Year honors while fellow freshman Rory Hie was tabbed a Pac-10 second teamer. On the season, the Trojans posted 12 top 5 finishes and six in the top 2. Zambri, 37, played six years on the Nationwide Tour and was an active teaching professional when he was not competing. A 1993 USC graduate who played for the Trojans from 1989 to 1993, Zambri played six seasons on the Nationwide Tour between 1997 and 2004. He finished as high as 19th on the circuit's money list in 1998, posting two second-place finishes that year. He competed in four PGA Tour events as well as the 1995 and 1999 U.S. Opens. As a Trojan, he was a two-time All-Pac-10 second team selection in 1991 and 1993. "This is the opportunity of a lifetime," said Zambri. "I look forward to not only bringing championships to USC, but to influencing the young people on the team in positive ways on and off the golf course." Zambri is married to Kim Zambri and they have three children: Wyatt, 10, Joseph, 6, and Laney, 4. SCHUETTE ON ZAMBRI: Zambri's USC Team Champions Zambri's USC Individual Champions |
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