Wounded Warrrior golf tournament benefits Aiken area scholarship programs

May 16—One of Aiken's most prominent military veterans got a salute from hundreds of his neighbors Monday afternoon at Woodside, with the 14th annual Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Classic getting underway.

Air Force veteran Jack Morrison, a 1959 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, co-founded the tournament in 2009 with the late Navy veteran and fellow pilot Walter Lamb, a 1955 Naval Academy graduate. Morrison was honored via a municipal proclamation during this year's opening ceremony.

Mayor Rick Osbon, also speaking on behalf of Aiken City Council, saluted Morrison "for his legacy of caring and for the imprint he leaves upon our community." The mayor acknowledged "the outstanding contributions of Jack Morrison" and proclaimed May 15 as "Jack Morrison Day in the city of Aiken."

Morrison, a Woodside resident and retired businessman, triggered laughter and applause from dozens of volunteers and golfers, noting that the proclamation was inaccurate in its description of the amount of money raised on behalf of local veterans since 2009. The correct total as of Monday morning, he said, was "$450,000, not $200,000."

Financial advisor Scott Singer, Harrison's successor as tournament chairman, noted that the day's benefits for local veterans, via participation of a full field of 248 golfers, included more than $50,000 in support for scholarship programs at Aiken Technical College and USC Aiken and to bankroll an annual Christmas retreat at Camp Gravatt.

Lamb, Morrison's counterpart as the tournament's co-founder, died in 2011. He was described in his obituary as a regular contributor to the Aiken Standard who "frequently enlightened readers regarding shortcomings of the latest politician or political initiative." The tribute also noted, "A true patriot and golf enthusiast, Walter was the organizer of the first annual local Wounded Warrior charity golf tournament."

This year's top foursomes in the tournament, making the most of a sunny afternoon with temperatures in the low 80s, were Bob Blankenheim, Chris Connell, Ron Hobbs and Gwen Blankenheim; Michael Amrhein, Dan Crowe, Sean Paris and Josh Mangano; Matt Bradlem, Chase Johnson, Steve Johnson and Ansel Uargas; and Brad Chavis, White Corley, Travis Bradley and Brent Chavis.

Janney Montgomery Scott (financial advisors) was the presenting sponsor. Among other major sponsors of this year's event were such organizations as Cumberland Village, Anchor Post Acute, Reynolds Lake Oconee, Outback Steakhouse, Murphy Auto Group and Grumpy's Sports Pub. Hole sponsors included such boosters as Jack Rogers Tire, Jewelry Doctor, Durban-Laird Insurance and Graves Auto.

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