LLOYD MORRISON JUNIOR SCRAMBLE
Fourth ANNUAL LLOYD MORRISON JUNIOR SCRAMBLE - june 6, 2013
One-Hundred and thirty-six golfers, including dozens of boys and girls from the West Austin celebrated the end of the school year at Lions Municipal Golf Course Thursday morning June 6th in the fourth annual Lloyd Morrison Junior Scramble. Sponsored by Save Muny, the event was free and featured kids from 5 to 18 years old, playing in a format.
Morrison who is the current pro at Hancock, grew up playing Muny and served as the Head pro there for over thirty years. He has long been an influence in Junior golf in Austin having mentored the likes of Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite.
"Muny is everybody's home course in Austin and we have had helped tons of golfers from West Austin learn and love the game at Muny for many, many years. It is a joy to see them come out here and have a great time with childhood friends and continue to support Junior Golf in Austin", he said, adding "It is still just like it was when I grew up playing with Lester Lundell, Billy Claggett and the Petri brothers".
Parents were delighted as they watched their children play the venerable old course which is in danger of being lost to development by the University of Texas in 2019. Kelley Mucci whose son Lorenzo played in the scramble said, "This course is a treasure for all of us in Austin and I can't imagine the negative impact on the neighborhood and the explosion of traffic if this course and green-space is replaced by apartments."
Players were greeted by perfect weather, a golf course in superb shape as all enjoyed the customary grilled hot-dog lunch, friendships and smiles. "I was in school yesterday and today I am playing golf and eating hot dogs with my brother and great friends. This is fun!" said a beaming Max Birdsong who played in the 12- and under foursome who won their division after sinking a 40-ft putt on the 4th playoff hole.(picture attached as Save Muny boys)
The 12-18 year old division results:
Zachary Honigzoon,12 who shot an 18 under par, 53.
Jacob Sosa,10
Elana Castano,13
JD Cervantes, 13
Morrison who is the current pro at Hancock, grew up playing Muny and served as the Head pro there for over thirty years. He has long been an influence in Junior golf in Austin having mentored the likes of Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite.
"Muny is everybody's home course in Austin and we have had helped tons of golfers from West Austin learn and love the game at Muny for many, many years. It is a joy to see them come out here and have a great time with childhood friends and continue to support Junior Golf in Austin", he said, adding "It is still just like it was when I grew up playing with Lester Lundell, Billy Claggett and the Petri brothers".
Parents were delighted as they watched their children play the venerable old course which is in danger of being lost to development by the University of Texas in 2019. Kelley Mucci whose son Lorenzo played in the scramble said, "This course is a treasure for all of us in Austin and I can't imagine the negative impact on the neighborhood and the explosion of traffic if this course and green-space is replaced by apartments."
Players were greeted by perfect weather, a golf course in superb shape as all enjoyed the customary grilled hot-dog lunch, friendships and smiles. "I was in school yesterday and today I am playing golf and eating hot dogs with my brother and great friends. This is fun!" said a beaming Max Birdsong who played in the 12- and under foursome who won their division after sinking a 40-ft putt on the 4th playoff hole.(picture attached as Save Muny boys)
The 12-18 year old division results:
Zachary Honigzoon,12 who shot an 18 under par, 53.
Jacob Sosa,10
Elana Castano,13
JD Cervantes, 13
Lloyd Morrison was instrumental in making Lions Municipal what it is today. The golf pro has always put a major emphasis on developing junior golfers which has benefited Austin's youth for many, many years. Lloyd Morrison served as pro at Lions Municipal Golf Course from 1977 until February, 2012. Please see below for an excerpt from an article written by Doug Smith on how important Morrison has been to the Austin golf scene. Thank you Lloyd!
Lloyd “Morrison was one of the area's top juniors in the 1960s. When he was 17 he won the Austin Men's City Championship and finished second in the state junior. That same year he qualified for the Texas Open and made the cut in the PGA Tour event at historic Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio.
In 1967 Morrison had played some junior college golf and was expecting to transfer to the University of Houston. Instead, he said he took a liking to the golf business and took a job as a part-time assistant to George Hannon at Lions.
Morrison turned pro in 1969 and went to work full time at Lions. In 1970 he went to Morris Williams as assistant pro. In 1973 he won the city contract to operate Hancock Golf Course, and in 1977 he added Lions to his responsibilities.
At Lions, Morrison continued to run the Firecracker Open, and in 1978 he established the Lions Spring Partnership, one of the most popular tournaments in the area. Morrison has always been a big booster of junior golf, and he teamed with Hannon and Joe Balander to start the city's summer Junior Golf Academy. Three years ago he started the Lloyd Morrison Invitational, a free end-of-the-school-year scramble event for juniors.
"When I was just a kid playing out here (at Muny), I never would have dreamed that this is where I'd spend most of my career," Morrison said. "Over the years I had some chances to take other jobs, some at some fancier places. But I never wanted to be anywhere else. And I still like to work. I don't want to retire.
"I have been very fortunate," Morrison added. "I learned the business from great people like coach Hannon and Joe Balander. And I have been fortunate to have a lot of really good people work for me. Over the years they have given me a lot of good ideas. I'm proud of a lot of the things we have done."”
Lloyd “Morrison was one of the area's top juniors in the 1960s. When he was 17 he won the Austin Men's City Championship and finished second in the state junior. That same year he qualified for the Texas Open and made the cut in the PGA Tour event at historic Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio.
In 1967 Morrison had played some junior college golf and was expecting to transfer to the University of Houston. Instead, he said he took a liking to the golf business and took a job as a part-time assistant to George Hannon at Lions.
Morrison turned pro in 1969 and went to work full time at Lions. In 1970 he went to Morris Williams as assistant pro. In 1973 he won the city contract to operate Hancock Golf Course, and in 1977 he added Lions to his responsibilities.
At Lions, Morrison continued to run the Firecracker Open, and in 1978 he established the Lions Spring Partnership, one of the most popular tournaments in the area. Morrison has always been a big booster of junior golf, and he teamed with Hannon and Joe Balander to start the city's summer Junior Golf Academy. Three years ago he started the Lloyd Morrison Invitational, a free end-of-the-school-year scramble event for juniors.
"When I was just a kid playing out here (at Muny), I never would have dreamed that this is where I'd spend most of my career," Morrison said. "Over the years I had some chances to take other jobs, some at some fancier places. But I never wanted to be anywhere else. And I still like to work. I don't want to retire.
"I have been very fortunate," Morrison added. "I learned the business from great people like coach Hannon and Joe Balander. And I have been fortunate to have a lot of really good people work for me. Over the years they have given me a lot of good ideas. I'm proud of a lot of the things we have done."”