Hamrick Tops Hoffmann In Playoff To Capture 35th

Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic

EL PASO, Texas (November 24, 2009) - Alabama sophomore Hunter Hamrick sank a five-foot par put on the first playoff hole to capture the 35th Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic title held at the El Paso Country Club on Tuesday.

The win brings the tournament fulls circle, as Alabama's Jerry Pate won the first event in 1974. Hamrick's win is Alabama's fist since Pate won the inaugural event.

Hamrick never led in the event until the final hole, when he birdied 18 for the third straight round to tie Oklahoma State's Morgan Hoffmann to set up the one-hole playoff.

In the playoff, Hamrick drove down the center of the fairway, while Hoffmann's drive strayed left. The Alabama sophomore found the green with his second shot, but the OSU sophomore just missed the front edge of the green. Hoffmann chipped within three and a half feet of the pin, while Hamrick putted five feet past the pin. Hamrick putted out, while Hoffman's put when in and out, giving the Alabama native his first win.

The dual was set up after Wichita State's Dustin Garza bogeyed 16 and double bogeyed 18 to lose hold of a lead that he had held onto since the first round.

In all, it was the 11th playoff in the 35 years of the event has happened. Last year, Marquette's Mike Van Sickle defeated Oklahoma State's Trent Leon in a record six playoff holes. 

The wind picked up to 15 miles per hour on Tuesday causing havoc on the course, as the field scoring average went from 70.78 to 73.13. In the end, only 14 played finished the tournament at even par or better. 

Only five players have sub-par round on Tuesday, led by Kent State's John Hahn and Washington's Richard Lee, who both carded three-under 68s. Hamrick and Hoffman each added 69s, while Georgia's Russell Henley fired a one-under 70.

Each university that has a player participating in the tournament will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Over the past 35 years, the Sun Bowl Association has donated $676,000 to collegiate golf through this scholarship program.