Jeff Morgan
Year of Induction: 2014 | Categories: Golf, Individual
By the time Jeff Morgan completed his golf career at Salem Community High school, the 1993 graduate had raised the standard bar to a new level.
At the time of his induction into the SCHS Sports Hall of Fame, Morgan owned the top three scoring averages with marks of 36.2 strokes per nine holes in 1991, 36.8 in 1992 and 37.6 in 1990.
Besides season averages, Morgan set course records at Salem Country Club with a three-under-par 33 and at Mt. Carmel with another round of three-under-par 33. Morgan finished first or tied for first in 37 of Salem’s 46 regular season meets during his four years in high school.
Morgan claimed two North Egypt Conference individual championships with rounds of 73 as a freshman in 1989 and 73 again as a sophomore in 1990. He cracked the top ten again in 1991 with a 78 and was fourth in 1992 with a 76.
Twice Morgan qualified for the Class AA state meet as an individual. As a junior in 1991, Morgan finished third at the regional meet with a round of 75 and sixth at the sectional. Morgan posted an 11th place finish at the state meet with a two-day total of 158.
As a senior in 1992, Morgan won the Centralia Regional individual championship with a score of 76 and earned a return trip to state with a third place finish at the Danville Sectional. Morgan came in 19th place at the state meet with a round of 162.
Morgan was chosen to the Southern Illinois Coaches Association All-South First Team and was the team’s most valuable player all four years in high school.
During his time with the Wildcats golf program Salem won four NEC team championships and one regional title. The Wildcats qualified for sectional play all four years.
Morgan’s road to success in high school golf began at an early age, as he played in national youth tournaments at Ann Arbor, Mich., Las Vegas, Nev., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla, Pekin, Philadelphia, Pinehurst, NC and San Diego. He also participated in Gateway Junior PGA Tournaments throughout southern Illinois and St. Louis, Oklahoma State Golf Camp and in national junior tournaments with future PGA players Tiger Woods and D.A. Points among others.
Besides golf, Morgan was also a starter for the Wildcats basketball and baseball teams in high school. Morgan earned All-NEC Honorable Mention in baseball for the 1993 season.
Morgan continued his golf career into college where he played three seasons for Parkland College and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
After college Morgan has worked for the Tommy Armour Golf Company, the PGA Tour, Nevco Scoreboard Company, Porter Athletic and is the current owner of Jeta Morgan, Inc.