September 8, 2009

ASHVILLE, OH — Chris Philipsen's golf game has always been built on his sublime physical gifts and an obsession with technical precision, but during his roller-coaster front nine Sunday one key ingredient was missing: passion. He has often seemed to approach tournaments like a joyless middle manager running through a to-do list, his youthful spunk stolen by crushing amounts of hype, and unfulfilled expectations. But everything changed for Chris on Sunday.

Chris, a.k.a. Moneymaker, fired a career-low passionate even-par at Cooks Creek Golf Club. The problem is the career-low 36-strokes occured on the back nine after an 11-over 47 front nine.

Moneymaker opened the day with two pars. He managed a bogey at the 3rd hole and was 1-over par through three holes. Then a double-bogey at the 4th hole and a snap hook pull into the Scioto River at the 5th hole. "My game was off the charts bad for a period of 4 holes," says Philipsen of his round. "I was really bad for about an hour."

Philipsen scored double-bogey at the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th holes. "Push, pull, pull, push, pull," added Philipsen. The ball was doing everything, but going straight."

Chris bogeyed the 8th and 9th holes. He turned the corner and played flawless golf throughout the back nine including a birdie at the 13th hole and a par opportunity at the 18 hole. He finished the back nine with an even par 36.

"That was some roller coaster round," says Greg Garrett. "47-36=83 should cause heads to shake with lots of confusion."

Moneymaker scored 65 points on Sunday. Chris moved into 13th position within the 2009 Virtual Tournament with 65.8 point per round.