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Murphy engrossed in the moment
49ers golfer turns in opening 71
DAVID SCOTT
dscott@charlotteobserver.com
Before walking to the tee on the seventh hole at Quail Hollow Club on Thursday, Trevor Murphy stopped at the edge of the fairway, where his girlfriend Amanda Abernathy stood with his father Steve Murphy and step-mother Donna Murphy.
"Are you having fun?" Trevor Murphy asked them. "Good. I have to go hit a golf ball."
If anybody had more fun during the first round of the Wachovia Championship than Murphy, that person was hard to find.
A senior on the Charlotte 49ers golf team who is missing this weekend's Atlantic 10 tournament in Orlando, Fla., Murphy shot an unexpected, yet solid 1-under-par 71 with a few dozen friends and family members going along for the 18-hole ride.
When he was told his three-birdie, two-bogey round left him four shots off David Tom's lead, , Murphy just shook his head.
"I'm not even thinking about that," he said.
It wasn't hard to find Murphy, who outplayed the pros in his group, Dustin Johnson (78) and Chez Reavie (72). He was the one without sponsors' logos on his shirt, hat and golf bag.
Instead, he wore a white 49ers hat, a nondescript beige shirt and his bag had only "Charlotte" and "Trevor Murphy" scripted on the side.
Even his caddie, Ryan Wilson, is a 49er -- a teammate who sat out this season after transferring from High Point.
Murphy, who made the tournament through a qualifier Tuesday, was numb when he began his round on the par-5 10th.
"I couldn't feel the club in my hands," he said.
With Wilson keeping things light -- he told jokes when he thought Murphy was tightening up -- Murphy quickly found a comfort zone.
His drive easily flew 267 yards, leading to an opening par. Although he bogeyed holes 13 and 17, his birdie on the 15th helped him finish his front nine 1-over. Birdies on 3 and 5 moved him to a red number for the day.
"The progression I had from the first hole to the end of my round was unbelievable," Murphy said.
Through it all, he stayed relaxed. He walked up a few fairways with Abernathy next to him, the two chatting about whatever college kids chat about. He stayed consistent despite the presence of his dad, who admitted they both get nervous when he watches his son play.
"Sometimes I think it's best if he watches me from the middle of the woods," Trevor said.
Murphy -- who said he got some unsolicited advice Thursday morning from Zach Johnson and Brandt Snedeker -- also found out something else.
He belonged out there.
