INDIANAPOLIS — Golf has always been synonymous with Southmont High School and recently that could not have been made any more evident.
The Indiana Golf Foundation conducted its 61st Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony at the Broadmoor Country Club in Indianapolis and it was filled with Southmont connections.
Leading the way was the induction of Lee Williamson into the Hall of Fame. He becomes the first Montgomery County golfer to be included in to the 115-person ring of honor.
“It really wasn’t on my radar,” the 1998 Southmont gradute said. “I have not been involved in Indiana golf for a while so when I received notice earlier this year that I was going into the Hall of Fame it really caught me off guard a bit. It’s such an honor and was completely unexpected.”
Williamson enjoyed success at every level of his career. He was a three-time All-State selection while at Southmont. He was the individual medalist in 25 of 38 matches and claimed the Sagamore Athletic Conference title three straight years. He also set the Chatard Invitational record by shooting a 7-under par 63.
He then continued his golfing career at Purdue University for four years and had 20 Top 20 finishes in 52 matches. He was a three-time All-Big Ten First Team member (2000-2002) and culminated his career in 2002 by being named the Big Ten Player of the Year. During that year he had an 18-hole average of 70.8 which earned him the Les Bolstad award for having the lowest stroke average. He also finished the NCAA Regional with a 7-under par total of 209 and was selected to represent the U.S. in the Palmer Cup. He was also named Division 1 All-American Honorbale Mention in 2001 and then was a First Team All-American in 2002.
He also enjoyed quite a bit of success as an amateur as he won the Indiana Match Play title in 2000 and both the Indiana Amateur and Indiana Open in 2001. He also claimed the Indiana Amateur title in 2002 and qualified for the U.S Amateur in 2000 and 2002. In 2004 he won the Indiana Open again.
In 2005 he turned pro and played on the Canadian Tour and the Nationwide Tour. He won three tournaments — MTS Classic, Player Cup and Diablo Grande California Championship in 2005. In 2006 he won the Greater Vancouver Charity Classic. Williams did play in two PGA events.
In 2007 he moved to Florida where he was married and is now the Director of Golf at Orange County Nationals in Winter Haven.
For Williamson the game of golf has given him a lifetime of memories.
One of his fondest memories came with his dad, Dave Williamson.
“There are so many memories, but having dad carry my bags in one of my tournament wins has to rank up there as the best or definitely of one the best,” he said. “That was just a special moment for me. I mean he was the one who got me started and to share that with him is something I will never forget.”
Williamson told the gathering at the event that while he didn’t quiet reach his ultimate goal of playing on the PGA and being a member of a winning Ryder Cup team. “I have gotten more back from Indiana golf than I put in. This is totally a great honor.”
So, an interview with the newest member of the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame wouldn’t be complete without asking the obvious question. Who is the best golfer in the family?
“I think we would all say that is Dad,” he said.
TWO MORE MOUNTIES HONORED
During the same event Southmont senior Addison Meadows continued to pile up honors as she was named the Junior Tour Player of the Year.Her accomplishments included five first-place finishes; first place in the Junior Tour Championship: Girls Division 16-19; first place in the Master Tour Championship: Girls
Division; and a Top 5 finish in the Hoosier Junior Championship.
Mike Brown, a Southmont graduate from the 1970s, earned the Clifford E. Wagoner Award posthumously. This award is given annually to an amateur golfer who by his or her conduct most nearly exemplifies those sterling qualities of outstanding sportsmanship and high character possessed by Clifford E Wagoner.He was the director of the Indiana State Senior Golf Association from 2018 to until his death in October 2023. In that roll he oversaw 18 annual tournaments and managed the organization’s 550 members.
Brown is the second Southmont member to earn this award in the last 10 years as Dave Williamson won the award.
