Tom Dugan - Drafted with the 2nd pick of the 4th round, #8 overall by The Hunt ClubIn 2008 Tom Dugan entered the King Invitational with a plethora of questions and concerns about his game. Returning from surgery to repair a bicep muscle torn during a freak lawn-mowing incident, Dugan's ability to merely swing a club was untested.
Then came Saturday's Match Play day and a systematic 5-and-4 dismantling of Lane Moore. After disposing of "Turtle" for the second consecutive season, Dugan claimed his return to action a resounding success. But skeptics were slow to buy into that thinking. Throughout the 2008 season Dugan's presence on tour remained strong even if the results weren't always dramatic.
During a grueling, hot mid-summer's day at Asheboro's Tot Hill Farm, Dugan's round proved to be nothing short of laborious. The Hunt Club's captain, Wayne Hunt was one of his playing partners that day and said, "you could just tell that physically Tom wasn't all the way back. After such a long layoff conditioning is always a concern and that day showed he wasn't a hundred percent."
Several months later Hunt was again paired with Dugan and this time he saw a different player. "Conditions weren't favorable that day either," Hunt said. "It was blistering cold and windy and that can really wear on you. At the day's end, Tom was as fresh as he was on the first hole."
"At that point, I knew if I had the chance to grab him in the draft, I'd take it. I mean who wouldn't want someone who almost always hits it right down the middle and will play all weekend from the senior's."
As the 8th overall pick in the 2009 King Invitational, it appears Dugan has finally made it all the way back.
- Role on The Hunt Club: Lead Dog
- School: West Palm Beach, FL
- Personal: Wife, Kathy. Daughter, Aimee. Son, Tommy
- Other notable athletes drafted #8 overall: NFL Hall-of-Famers Larry Csonka (Miami Dolphins, 1968) and Ronnie Lott (SF 49ers, 1981)
- Hobbies: Watching NASCAR, watching his granddaughter grow up
- Favorite teams: Atlanta Braves, Miami Dolphins
- Did you know? Tom is a Vietnam War history fanatic
- Who would play Tom in the sports movie version of the King Invitational: Comedic actor Jack Black
I'm glad we are the same this year. so I will get a win on saturday
ReplyDeleteIm glad you "are the same this year" or on the same team. That's one player Turtle don't have to worry about.
ReplyDeleteI was concerned that if I had to play Turtle again it was going to be a huge challenge.It is hard to beat someone back to back, much less 3 times.And with his stature of 3 times major champ I really look forward to him being my teammate this year.
ReplyDeleteWow, I think the Hammer was a English major. Too bad that he sucks at spelling!
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