Eagle Creek sends off Morgan to PGA Club championships
By DON HOHLER • Updated Jun 11, 2018 at 2:49 PM
NORWALK — "Tree-lined and tight."
That's the kind of golf course Eagle Creek's Director of Golf David Morgan hopes he will get a look at early this week in practice rounds as he prepares for the playing of the 51st PGA Club Professional Golf championships at the Bayonet Black Horse Golf Complex at Seaside, Calif.
Morgan left for California with wife, Ashley, and children, 10-year-old Gracie and 2-year-old Emerson, Monday morning. He warmed up for the 72-hole event that has a 36-hole cut with his Sunday morning game with club members Ken and Nancy Bleile, and Perry Dryden.
He was 5-under after 12 holes, and as he put it, "tried to break the flag stick with approaches on two holes."
"I picked up after 12, as I did not want to be late for my send off party," the 35-year-old Morgan joked.
Morgan admits he has never played in a tournament with this kind of status.
"I am sure I will have some butterflies, but every pro has those on the first tee," he said. "That said, however, my game is as good as I can get it. The perfect scenario would me making the 36 holes cut on Monday night and then be fortunate enough to make the final cut — that being the elite number that earn their way into the national PGA event in the fall.
"No question, a high finish opens a lot of avenues for other PGA events," Morgan added. "But, to be honest, I have not focused on the cuts. I want to go in with the frame of mind that I have prepared as well as I could of. I don't want to be stuck thinking anything differently. If I play as well as I can, everything will work out."
Morgan talked about the course he is facing at Black Horse.
"Like I said, tight and tree-lined. Generally, tight courses are not super long, and that also plays in my favor," he said. "I enjoy it, as those kind of courses reward good shots.
"Many players just plain 'check out' if they can't hit it straight," Morgan added. "My goal is to be the best ambassador I can be for Norwalk, Ohio's Eagle Creek Golf Club."
Morgan has tee times at 8:10 a.m. on Thursday morning and on 1:10 p.m. Friday for practice rounds. Tournament starting times have yet to be posted. The initial 18 holes will be played on Sunday, with 18 more on Monday with the field cut after 36 holes. He believes a second cut will be made after the Tuesday round.
ESPN will cover the tournament all four days with air times at 4:30 p.m. June 17, 7 p.m. on June 18 and June 19 — and 6:30 p.m. on June 20.