EDF Hosts Ole Miss Legend Jake Gibbs at Annual Golf Classic

Talbert Toole
Lifestyles Editor
talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com

The Economic Development Foundation’s President and CEO, Jon Maynard, owner of The Range at TGC Outdoors, Joshua Gregory, Ole Miss alumnus Jake Gibbs and EDF Vice President Allen Kurr all participated in the annual golf classic.

The Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation (EDF) held its annual Golf Classic Friday, Oct. 12, at the Country Club of Oxford.

This year marked the 11th annual tournament for the foundation. The tournament is an opportunity to raise funds for the EDF and bring chamber members and partners together for a day of fun, said Allen Kurr, vice president of the EDF.

The EDF, which is a part of the long term strategic growth of the Oxford economy, works on expanding the community’s workforce, business projects and entrepreneurship development, among many other aspects of the local economy, Kurr said.

The golf tournament is one of the many ways the EDF works to support those efforts. These type of projects allow the organization to keep bringing jobs and economic growth back into Oxford, Kurr said.

“This tournament is to make sure we continuously do that into the future,” Kurr said. “At the end of the day, it is just a lot of fun to bring the community together.”

The tournament consisted of a hole-in-one contest for a chance to win a new car sponsored by Cannon Motors of Mississippi while other contests were sponsored by The Inn at Ole Miss, Malco and Premier Lanes.

One of the many highlights of the tournament was a special appearance by Ole Miss Legend Jake Gibbs. Gibbs, former Ole Miss baseball coach and inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, was stationed at hole 5 where contestants could challenge him in a hole-in-one competition for a autographed baseball donated by Dick’s Sporting Goods.

“Jake Gibbs added a special touch to the tournament by telling stories to the players as they visited with him at hole 5,” said Rosie Vassallo, golf chairwoman of the tournament.

Another special guest—an Ole Miss legend in his own right—was 2016 Olympics bronze medalist Sam Kendricks who competed against Gibbs in the hole-in-one competition.

Vassallo said one of the great things about this particular tournament is the sponsors giving back to the their community. Joshua Gregory, owner of The Range at TGC Outdoors has been an integral part of the success of this tournament by being the title sponsor for four consecutive years, she said.

“This Golf Classic is more than just an afternoon of fun,” Vassallo said. “It benefits the “Quality of Life” here in Oxford-Lafayette County which is the Economic Development Foundation’s primary goal.”

Following the end of the tournament, an awards ceremony was held to congratulate tournament winners, which was sponsored by A2H Engineers, Architects and Planners. 

The Range at TGC Outdoors EDF Golf Classic Winners:

First Flight 1st Place : Community Mortgage
First Flight 2nd Place: Devoe Carr PLLC
First Flight 3rd Place: CenterPoint Energy

Second Flight 1st Place: Baptist Memorial Hospital North MS
Second Flight 2nd Place: The Range at TGC Outdoors
Second Flight 3rd Place: BancorpSouth

Longest Drive Hole No. 7: Gafford White, Two Nights Stay at Inn at Ole Miss
Closest to the Pin Hole No. 15: Randy Ivy, 16 Premier Lanes Bowling Passes
Longest Drive Hole No. 17: Jason Lowe, 8 Malco Movie Passes + Mystery Swag Bag

Raffle Winners:
Gafford White, Winner of a Jorg Wooden Watch, compliments of Steven Rose Jewelers
Matt Parham, Satterfield Platter, compliments of Satterfield Pottery