Thursday, April 10, 2008

Tucsonan Shoots 1 over 73 at Masters

Tucsonan shoots 1-over-73 at Masters
by Bryan Lee on Apr. 10, 2008
Amateur Michael Thompson reacts to his shot on the fourth tee during the first round of the 2008 Masters golf tournament.
Tucson amateur Michael Thompson fired a 1-over-par 73 in the first round of Masters play.
The Rincon/University High graduate birdied three holes and bogeyed four, shooting a 37-36 at Augusta National in Augusta, Ga.
He birdied No. 9 to get to 1-over-par and trailed co-leaders Justin Rose and Trevor Immelman by five strokes. With some golfers still on the course, Thompson was tied for 35th.
Tiger Woods shot an even-par 72, one shot better than Thompson.
Thompson is ranked No. 2 in the nation for top-ranked University of Alabama. He is one of three amateurs in the Masters tourney.
In a par 3 exhibition tournament Wednesday, he teamed with veteran Ben Crenshaw for a tie for fourth place, finishing 2-under-par and three shots behind former University of Arizona golfer Rory Sabbatini.
“I was so nervous on the first tee because Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player walked up to the tee right then,” Thompson said. “(Palmer) was saying, ‘Just enjoy it. Try not to be nervous. Just grip it and rip it on the first hole.’ ”
Thompson’s father, Mike, is caddie for his son.
“He’s usually a pretty talkative guy,” the younger Thompson said of his dad. “He was completely quiet. He was taking it all in. Someone said that he almost started crying a couple of holes just because he was having the best time.”
via Tucsoncitizen.com