Morris shoots record score on state’s oldest course
A Presque Isle native made some golfing history on Friday.
At the 128-year-old Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor, making it the oldest in Maine and eighth oldest in the United States, Eric Morris established a course record with a six-under-par 64.
Golfing legend Walter Hagen held the record for 50 years by shooting a 67 in 1922. Lew Hersey, the club pro at the time, broke the mark with a 65 in 1972 and two other golfers had matched that before Morris, who serves as the assistant pro at Kebo, turned in the round of his life.
“It was pretty incredible,” Morris said. “I didn’t really think too much about having a chance at the record until after I birdied the 14th hole.
“Then I hit the best shot I have ever hit on 17 to about 16 inches [from the hole] and tapped in for a birdie to get to 6 under,” he added.
The 25-year-old had another birdie opportunity on 18 for a chance at a 63, but came up short on his putt while facing the distraction of an estimated 50 onlookers aware of the situation watching from the clubhouse area and the deck. Still, history had been made after his tap-in for par.
He played the back nine at an incredible 5-under-par 31 after registering a 33 on the front.
“I owe a lot to what happened during the round to the three guys I played with — Wyman Tapley, Tim Buell and Sam Grindle,” Morris said. “We all knew what was happening and they helped keep my mind off it by telling stories about something random or making jokes. They also played quite well, which helped a lot.”
Morris played many sports before graduating from Presque Isle High School in 2009, but golf was not one of them as he opted for soccer instead. He now resides in Bar Harbor during the summer months and plans to head south to West Palm Beach, Fla this winter to serve as a caddy.
His parents are Alan Morris of Houlton and Lori Hudson of Presque Isle.
