MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Last year, Lorcan Morris lost the Amateur Golf Tour Championship in a playoff. This year, a playoff didn’t even seem possible as he stepped to the 14th tee Sunday trailing by five shots. But the 23-year-old member of the Charlotte tour made birdie, eagle and birdie on the next three holes to fire an even-par 72 and win the 2005 Amateur Golf Tour Championship at Wild Wing Plantation.
Morris’ two-day total of 146 was good for a one-stroke victory over a three players and earned the title that slipped away last October. But more importantly to the college senior, the win allowed him to go forward with his plan to turn pro in May.
"If I can’t win the Amateur Golf Tour championship against the best amateurs on this tour, I knew I had no right turning professional," said the 23-year-old Morris. "Today was make or break for me. I told myself if I didn’t win, I was not going to turn pro."
After Morris birdied the 16th hole for a one-stroke lead over playing partner James Stanofski of the Pinehurst tour, both players made par on the 17th hole, setting up a final-hole showdown. Morris played safely, hitting the front of the par-4 green in two and two-putting from 45 feet. Stanofski had a 15-foot birdie putt to tie, but it just missed. Stanofski, who shot 74-73–147, wound up in third place in a scorecard playoff. Joe Jaspers (75-72) of the Charlotte tour won the scorecard playoff to take second in the Championship Flight, while Jim Aughtry (77-70) of the Charlotte tour finished fourth. Last year’s champ, Tommy Miller of the Tri-Cities Tennessee tour, was sixth.
"I hadn’t won all year and I had to dig deep and fight for my life," said Morris, holding the winner’s crystal trophy. "The way that I handled myself under pressure showed me that I should go pro. It’s nice to go out on top. You can’t go any higher on the Amateur Golf Tour than this."
In the A Flight, Chris Loyd cruised to victory. Loyd, who plays the Virginia Beach tour, fired back-to-back 74s for a 148 total and a seven-shot win over Erick Banks (80-75) of the Charlotte tour.
Former Florida State and NFL wide receiver Kevin Knox won the B Flight. Knox, who plays the Tampa tour, shot 80-82–162 for a three-stroke victory.
The C Flight winner was Myrtle Beach’s Wayne Darnell, who shot 81-85–166, while Eric Hensley of the Tri-Cities tour captured the D Flight title by shooting 87-85–172.
The two-day tournament drew a record field of 388 participants from AGT tours across the Eastern United States.
The Amateur Golf Tour
2005 Tour Championship
Final Results
Wild Wing Plantation &
Burning Ridge Golf Club
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Championship Flight
1. Lorcan Morris (Charlotte) 74-72–146
2. Joe Jaspers (Charlotte) 75-72–147
3. James Stanofski (Pinehurst) 74-73–147
4. Jim Aughtry (Charlotte) 77-70–147
5. Len Poppell (Hilton Head) 74-76–150
6. Tommy Miller (Tri-Cities TN) 75-75–150
7. Ted Cox (Charlotte) 77-75–152
8. Jonathan Wilson (Virginia Beach) 78-75–153
9. Gary Howze (Upstate SC) 80-74–154
10. Dave Brown (Charlotte) 76-78–154
A Flight
1. Chris Loyd (North Louisiana) 74-74–148
2. Erick Banks (Charlotte) 80-75–155
3. Rex Mills (Charlotte) 81-75–156
4. Pat Cosgrove (Virginia Beach) 78-79–157
5. James Earles (Pinehurst) 80-77–157
6. James Herndon (Charlotte) 79-80–159
7. Rick Tomei (Charlotte) 82-78–160
8. Steve Williams (Charlotte) 83-77–160
9. Dave Mullis (Virginia Beach) 79-82–161
10. Charles Bradey (Upstate SC) 78-83–161
B Flight
1. Kevin Knox (Tampa) 80-82–162
2. Mike Reardon (Charleston) 83-82–165
3. Pat Penton (Orlando) 83-82–165
4. Kenny Hall (Charlotte) 84-81–165
5. Phil Vangeersdalen (Charlotte) 85-82–167
6. Bruce Owens (Upstate SC) 82-85–167
7. Greg Walker (Raleigh) 83-85–167
8. Larry Smothers (Myrtle Beach) 85-83–168
9. Darin Darnell (Upstate SC) 79-89–168
10. Robbie Robinson (Orlando) 86-82–168
C Flight
1. Wayne Darnell (Myrtle Beach) 81-85–166
2. Doug Crews (Orlando) 85-84–169
3. John Pearson (Western Piedmont) 84-91–175
4. Eric Whitehead (Raleigh) 93-83–176
5. Allen Hagen (Charlotte) 86-90–176
6. Mike Mouser (Orlando) 85-91–176
7. Larry Henson (Asheville) 91-86–177
8. Dannie Newell (Upstate SC) 89-88–177
9. Marvin Pressley (Orlando) 91-86–177
10. Eric Cox (Down East NC) 87-90–177
D Flight
1. Eric Hensley (Tri-Cities TN) 87-85–172
2. Steve Leverone (Orlando) 93-80–173
3. Ray Fesperman (Myrtle Beach) 91-84–175
4. Kevin Greene (Western Piedmont) 96-84–180
5. Steven Boyles (Upstate SC) 94-89–183
6. Rick Whitman (Orlando) 94-89–183
7. Brian Mack (Orlando) 95-88–183
8. George Holsapple (Upstate SC) 95-90–185
9. Fred Bertha (Upstate SC) 97-90–187
10. Baxter Greene (Western Piedmont) 93-97–190
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