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News
May 2, 2011
Mitch Merrill is Siouxland Senior Open
Honorary Chair
Long-time golf pro Mitch Merrill, who has touched the
lives of thousands of youth and adult golfers, has been named honorary
chair of the Siouxland Senior Open to be held May 18 at Two River’s
Golf Course.
The area's most prestigious event for golfers
50 and older, the 19th annual Senior Open will feature 1972 Heisman
Trophy winner Johnny
Rodgers at the awards dinner at Dakota Dunes Country Club.
The senior golf event is raising funds to help two non-profits
-- Sunrise Retirement Community and The First Tee.
Merrill is best known as the head golf professional at Sioux City
Country Club, a post he has held since 1991. He is also recognized
as a tireless
champion for the sport with youth. Merrill has raised over $18,000
to promote Junior Golf in Siouxland conducting an annual Golf
Marathon which required playing 200 holes in a single day.
In conjunction with the Siouxland Foundation,
Merrill established the "Mitch
Merrill Siouxland Junior Golf Fund" to provide annual
grants to support and promote junior golf in Siouxland. The
long-time golf pro has sponsored youth golf lessons and provided equipment
for Sioux City Parks and Recreation Department.
He
also has served as a volunteer instructor for local golf
clinics.
Merrill attended and played golf for Wichita
State University in Wichita, Kan. He turned professional in 1984 and
began
career as
an assistant
golf pro at a club in Wichita. He was elected to PGA membership
in 1986. He became a PGA Master Professional in 1996 and today is one
of 354 Master
Professionals
in the PGA of
America. (22,731 members)
In Nebraska he served as 2000-2001 president of Nebraska
Section PGA, received the Junior Golf Leadership Award
and was named
2001 Golf Professional
of the Year.
Merrill and his wife Tonya have two adult
children.
Past honorary chairs have included Gordon Ellis, Bud
Brockman, Lila Frommelt, Clarence Carney, Gene
Hagen, Ray Obermiller,
Bob Roe and
Richard & Mary Schneider.
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