University of Houston Athletics
Houston Golf Hosts Dave Williams Pro-Am presented by Insperity
5/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
HOUSTON - The University of Houston Golf programs enjoyed fun times with friends, alumni and outstanding professionals on Monday during the annual Dave Williams Pro-Am presented by Insperity at The Woodlands Country Club.
This event, which benefits both Houston Men's and Women's Golf programs, raised more than $140,000 in only a few hours. As in years past, it started with a live auction of Houston Golf greats led by auctioneer and letterman Mike Neece.
"The Dave Williams Pro-Am is always a fun event, and everyone had a great time. We are grateful to our fans, former players and outstanding professionals and the staff of The Woodlands Country Club for helping us benefit our program," Director of Golf Jonathan Dismuke said. "This event is critical for the success of our program every year, and it was great to see how excited everyone is for the future of Houston Golf."
By the end of the auction of 1970 NCAA individual national champion John Mahaffey, three-time All-America First-Team selection and former head coach Keith Fergus, 1981 Open Championship winner Bill Rogers, 1977 Southwest Conference individual champion Ed Fiori and two-time Southwest Conference champion team member Blaine McCallister, the Cougars had raised more than $20,000.
Following the auction, most players headed to the course for a shotgun start. However, Dismuke, Associate Head Coach Ryke Dismuke and staff members and a few student-athletes returned to the clubhouse to watch the NCAA Selection Show, where the Cougars learned they would compete as the No. 6 seed at the NCAA Lubbock Regional.
By the end of the pro-am competition, the team of Mike Pede, Bill Stephenson, John Sansing and Jon Mutton with professional Joey Sindelaar were team Low Gross winners. The team of Steve Sheeran, Lanny Emsuiler, Pete Pavluk and Pete Hinojosa with professional Esteban Toledo captured team the Low Net title.
Mike Lindsey won the Long Drive competition on No. 11 with four Closest to the Pin winners. Jay Jenkins won on No. 3 with Houston Assistant Athletics Director for Football Operations Fernando Lovo claiming the prize on No. 8. UH Alumni Association President Mike President won on No. 14, and no one moved closer on No. 16 than Tom Curtin, who sank the day's lone hole-in-one.
ABOUT DAVE WILLIAMS
The tournament is named after legendary Houston head coach Dave Williams, who led the Cougars to 16 NCAA team national championships from 1962-87. In his brilliant career, Williams guided Houston to 14 conference titles and more than 340 team tournament titles across 24 states and foreign countries.
Known as the Father of Collegiate Golf, Williams created the scoring system that continues to be used at collegiate events today.
He was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America, Texas Sports and Texas Golf halls of fame as well as the University of Houston Hall of Honor. In addition, the GCAA named its national men's collegiate golf Coach of the Year award in his honor in 1988.
Williams passed away in December 1998.
UP NEXT
The Cougars enter the NCAA postseason for the fourth consecutive season when they tee off at the NCAA Lubbock Regional on The Rawls Course at Texas Tech on May 14-16. The top five teams at each NCAA Regional advance to the NCAA Championships, slated for May 29-June 3 at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla.
Houston Women's Golf leaves Tuesday morning to prepare for the NCAA San Antonio Regional at Briggs Ranch Golf Club, starting Thursday. The Cougars qualified for the first NCAA postseason bid in only their second year of existence and in their first year of eligibility as a team.
