Bill Murray, Woody Austin and Mark Bryan Win Monday After the Masters

April 14, 2009

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The Hootie & the Blowfish Monday after the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am celebrated its 15th birthday with a star-studded field and its fourth consecutive sellout. More than 6,000 people lined the fairways at Barefoot Resort & Golf’s Dye Club to watch Bill Murray, Samuel L. Jackson, Jerome Bettis, Annika Sorenstam and many more play one of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.

The team led by Murray, PGA TOUR pro Woody Austin and Hootie guitarist Mark Bryan birdied the final three holes to finish 18-under par and win the tournament. For Bryan it was his first MAM victory in the event’s 15 years.

The Kris Blanks, George Rogers and Josh Kelley team finished tied for second at 17-under par with the Chris Cox and Mickey Tettleton led squad.

For both players and spectators the event was about much more than competition. Murray, Sorenstam, wrestling legend Ric Flair and John Daly drew some of the day’s biggest galleries. Sorenstam, who signed countless autographs, enjoyed the cheers of the crowd all afternoon, while Flair jokingly put a spectator in his patented figure four leg-lock on the fourth tee, drawing hoots from the crowd.

One of the nation’s most popular celebrity tournaments, the Monday After the Masters raises money to benefit education in South Carolina and the South Carolina Junior Golf Association. The event has been held in Myrtle Beach the last seven years and has raised nearly $3 million.

The day kicked off with a celebrity long drive contest, won by Lady Antebellum singer Charles Kelley with a 282-yard poke. Charles’ brother Josh had a 302-yard drive but was unable to find the fairway.