Dale Morey (1918-2002)
Morey, one of the five founders of the Society of Seniors, had a long amateur golf career. Morey turned professional for a time, but later had his amateur status reinstated. He played college golf at LSU where he was a three-time All-American and helped the LSU team to NCAA titles in 1940 and 1942. Morey won several top amateur events including the Southern Amateur in 1950 and 1964, the Western Amateur in 1953, the Azalea Invitational in 1960, the North and South Amateur in 1964, the Mexican Amateur in 1968, and the Mid-Atlantic Amateur in 1972.
Morey finished runner-up to Gene Littler in the 1953 U.S. Amateur, held at the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, losing on the final hole. Morey courageously rallied by winning the 16th and 17th holes with successive birdies to tie the match, however he found a greenside bunker at the 18th hole and blasted out 15 feet from the pin. Littler sank a 20-foot birdie putt to win. Morey played on the winning Walker Cup teams in 1955 and 1965, the Americas Cup team in 1954 and 1965, and the Eisenhower Trophy team in 1964. Morey also won many state titles against both amateurs and professionals including the Indiana Amateur (four times), Indiana Open (four times), North Carolina Amateur (twice), and North Carolina Open (once).
His amateur career extended into senior years, winning the U.S. Senior Amateur twice, 1974 and 1978, and finishing runner-up in 1981. He also won the U.S. Senior Golf Association Championship three times, the American Seniors five times, as well as the International Seniors and the British Senior Amateur. He also held executive positions in several golf associations including the Indiana Golf Association, Carolinas Golf Association, and Southern Golf Association.
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Morey also played college basketball at Louisiana State University (LSU) between 1939 and 1942. Morey then took over as head coach of the team after graduating in 1942 because then-head coach Harry Rabenhorst was called into military service during World War II. He posted a 28–19 overall record in his two seasons as LSU coach. Several years later, Morey played professionally. In 1946–47 he suited up for the Anderson Duffey Packers in the National Basketball League, and in 1947–48 he played for the Louisville Colonels in the Professional Basketball League of America.
Past Champions of the Dale Morey Championship
Year Winners Club
1983 Jack Van Ess Long Cove
1984 Bob Rawlins Long Cove
1985 Keith Compton Long Cove/Moss Creek
1986 Ed Tutwiler Long Cove/Moss Creek
1987 Bo Williams Long Cove/Moss Creek
1988 Joe Simpson Long Cove/Moss Creek
1989 Billy Key Amelia Island Plantation
1990 Billy Key Long Cove/Harbor Town
1991 Jim McMurtrey Amelia Island Plantation
1992 Jim McMurtrey Long Cove/Colleton River
1993 Chuck Smith Amelia Island Plantation
1994 Ward Wettlaufer Long Cove/Colleton River
1995 Bob Hullender Dataw Island Club
1996 Tom Hadley Long Cove/Belfair
1997 Jerry Nelson Mid Pines/Pine Needles
1998 Joel Hirsch Long Cove/Indigo Run
1999 Joel Hirsch Quail Ridge CC North&South
2000 Bill Ploeger Long Cove/Belfair-East
2001 Jerry Greenbaum Emerald Dunes/Polo Trace
2002 Vinny Giles Quail Ridge CC North&South
2003 Spencer Sappington Casino Magic/The Oaks CC
2004 Ed Fletcher The Hermitage GC
2005 Jerry Hudgins World Golf Village
2006 Rick Woulfe Quail Ridge CC North&South
2007 Jay Blumenfeld Fiddlesticks CC
2008 Jerry Hudgins Twin Eagles and Bonita Bay East
2009 Paul Simson The Honors Course/Lookout Mountain
2010 Ron Carter Quail Ridge CC North&South
2011 Paul Simson Pine Needles
2012 Sam Till Fiddlesticks CC
2013 Doug Hanzel The Landings
2014 Rick Woulfe Quail Ridge CC North&South
2015 Bob Kearney The Wigwam
2016 Keith Decker Pine Needles/Mid Pines
2017 Allen Barber Innisbrook
2018 Doug Hanzel The Landings
2019 Doug Hanzel Pine Needles/Mid Pines
2020 Daniel Russo The Club at Quail RIdge
2021 Rusty Strawn Innisbrook
2022 Rusty Strawn Pine Needles Resort