Mary Ann Morrison
Originally from New Orleans, Mary Ann Morrison was a preeminent figure in women’s amateur golf in Texas from 1960 until the 1980s. Morrison, a member of Houston Country Club, won 23 of 27 Houston City Championships during that span. All but one of those titles was won at Memorial Park Golf Course and the tournament was joking dubbed the “Morrison Benefit Tournament.”
Morrison dominated Houston Country Club play, winning all but four women’s titles from 1957-81, including a stretch of 13 straight beginning in 1969. Competing as Mrs. Jon Rathmell, Mary Ann began her reign as queen of the Texas Women’s Golf Association Championship in 1957 as Medalist (73) at Abilene Country Club. She repeated as medalist in 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, and 1972.
Mary Ann continued her dominance by earning medalist honors again in 1976 and 1981. The fact none of her TWGA titles were won on either her home course or even in her hometown of Houston makes her achievements even more noteworthy.
Mary Ann also won the TWGA Match Play tournament in 1961, 1966-1969, 1971, 1977, and 1987. She also reached the finals in 1960 and in 1964. In addition, she claimed the 1969 Southern Amateur title.
Mary Ann also competed in the 1991 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur in North Carolina.
In her “retirement,” she spent time at her and her husband’s ranch outside of Dubois, Wyoming and at the Old Baldy Club in Saratoga Wyoming, where she continued to compete at a high level - winning the Wyoming State Championship four times, the Wyoming Mid-Amateur five times and the Wyoming Senior Amateur six straight times.
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
Born: September 24, 1932
Died: February 15, 2019