Meet the New Kids on the Block
A field of 31 competed for the 2009 Animal House Classic title at Salem Hills last Saturday and the top 6 places were taken by 1st or 2nd year players. Meet the new kids on the block. Rookie Don Morris posted a 5-over 77 to avoid a 4-way playoff. Just a couple weeks out of Q-School, Morris beat Matt Murdza, Joe Robar, and Erik Johnson by a stroke to win his first Tour title.
Windy conditions on a saturated course pushed net scores well into the 70’s for the 2nd week on Tour. Morris kept the ball in play avoiding every animal trap but one – a 3-putt snake on #9. In fact, Morris went on to win the “bonus” putt-off after the tournament that included the 4 lowest “Zoo ratios” from the tournament. He beat his son Eric and Erik Johnson on the 2nd extra hole of the 4-hole playoff.
Murdza (36-42 – 78) led the field in greens-in-regulation (8/18) and took 32 putts to record his first top-4 in only his 2nd career start. Terry Barr and Christine Lecoutre tied for most fairways hit at 11. Robar (40-38 – 78) carded a net ace on the par-3 3rd hole and captured his 2nd top-4 finish in 7 starts. Johnson (37-41 – 78) finished in the top-4 for the first time in 5 starts. Rookie Lou Acosta (39-40 – 79) and 2nd year pro John Powel (40-39 – 79) tied for 5th.
Don Morris – 2009 Animal House Classic champ
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