Men's Golf preview: Morris Williams Intercollegiate
WHAT: Texas hosts the 42nd annual Morris Williams Intercollegiate, a 15-team, 54-hole stroke play event. The tournament is held annually in memory of former University of Texas golf star Morris Williams, Jr., who died in a plane crash while serving in the Air Force in 1953. An Austin native, Williams became the city's youngest junior champion at age 13 and dominated the local golf scene for the next several years. He starred on the Longhorns' teams from 1947-50 and led Texas to Southwest Conference championships in 1947, 1948 and 1950. In his final year (1950), Williams was runner-up in the NCAA Championship as UT finished second in the team competition. Upon graduation, Williams joined the Air Force and posted an undefeated record in service golf tournaments. It was shortly after his victory in the Worldwide Air Force Championship that he was killed. Former medalists at the Morris Williams Intercollegiate include such names as Fred Couples, Ben Crenshaw, Brad Elder, Bob Estes, Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson and Payne Stewart. WHEN: Monday, April 7 - Tuesday, April 8; tee times to be announced; the tournament field will play 36 holes on Monday and 18 holes on Tuesday. WHERE: The University of Texas Golf Club - Austin, Texas (par 71, 7,412 yards); the tournament will be played at The UT Golf Club for the first time after being held at Austin Country Club the last nine seasons. WHO: Joining the Longhorns in a challenging field will be No. 1 Alabama, No. 12 Auburn, BYU, No. 24 Central Florida, Fresno State, No. 25 Louisville, New Mexico, No. 6 Oklahoma State, Pepperdine, San Diego, TCU, No. 22 Texas Tech, Tulsa and defending Morris Williams champion No. 16 UNLV (rankings from the April 4 GolfWorld/Nike Coaches' Poll) LAST TIME OUT: Texas placed 14th at the U.S. Collegiate Championship on March 26 in Alpharetta, Ga. Redshirt freshman Bobby Hudson led Texas by tying for 40th place at 10-over par.
|
|
