RAMS HOST 11th ANNUAL O.D. BOUNDS GOLF CLASSIC
September 22, 2008

FORT WORTH, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University men’s golf team hosted the eleventh annual O.D. Bounds Golf Classic on Monday.  The event was held at Diamond Oaks Country Club, and all proceeds benefited the O.D. Bounds Endowment, which supports the golf program at Texas Wesleyan.

The event was attended by numerous alumni, friends, and family, however, there was one noticeably empty chair.  Maurice Bounds, wife of the tournament’s namesake, passed away on Friday, September 19.  Born on July 7, 1922, she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to many people.  She was also a surrogate mother to decades of Texas Wesleyan golfers and students and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

The funeral for Mrs. Bounds will be held on Tuesday, 10:00 a.m., at East Meadows Baptist Church (2000 Morrison Dr., Fort Worth).

The tournament is named for Orrin Davis Bounds Jr. who served as head coach for the Rams for 40 years.  Bounds was a legend at Texas Wesleyan the NAIA and was one of the most respected men in the golfing world.  He was the first coach to ever be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame and was the inaugural member of the Texas Wesleyan Athletic Hall of Fame.  Bounds, who passed away in 2004, led the Rams to 109 tournament victories including three national championships.

Under Bounds’ guidance Texas Wesleyan Men’s Golf became the most storied golf program in NAIA history.  The Rams have racked up 186 tournament wins including a record six national titles.  In 54 years of NAIA membership they have made 47 National Tournament appearances and have never missed the cut at that event.

Monday’s tournament raised approximately $25,000 bringing the O.D. Bounds Endowment to nearly $200,000.

The Rams also honored six former players, several of whom have been long time local golf-pro’s, for their All-American caliber performance in the early 1950’s.

Prior to 1962 the NAIA did not recognize All-American status for individual golfers.  The inaugural NAIA National Championship was held in 1952.  Texas Wesleyan University has determined that by the All-American criteria established in 1962 (a top-15 finish at the National Championship), that Jack Hamilton (1952-53), Ray Jefferson (52), Willard Young (52), Rex Hill (57), Don Hill (58), and Robert Wood (1959, 60, 61), would have qualified for the prestigious recognition if the award had begun with the first NAIA National Championship.

Thirty-two teams and 128 individuals competed in Monday’s tournament.  The foursome of  Roy Hill, Jerry Wood, Gary Frankenfield, and Armando Villarreal won the Gold Division with a score of 121 while Ben Dickerson, Johnathon Dickerson, Ron McWilliams, and Bill Kindsather won the Blue Division with a score of 135.

The Rams, who finished fourth in their season opener at Diamondback Golf Course, return to action at next week’s Rattler Invitational, September 29-30, in San Antonio, TX.