ATHENS – The annual Athens State University Alumni Golf Classic is scheduled for Thursday, May 14th at Canebrake Club in Athens. This event will kick off the activities for Athens State’s Homecoming Weekend.
The Golf Classic was started by J.J. and Dottie Donahue over 20 years ago. Walt Merritt stepped up to assist and chair the Golf Classic after J.J. Donahue retired from the Alumni Board. The Golf Classic is the Alumni Association’s largest scholarship fundraiser due to the groundwork started by the Donahues and Merritts. Merritt passed away in January 2015 and the Golf Classic Committee is naming two scholarships in their names: the Walt Merritt Memorial Alumni Golf Scholarship and J.J. and Dottie Donahue Alumni Golf Scholarship.
The event starts with lunch at 11:30 am and the tournament will begin at 1:00 pm. All proceeds from the tournament fund scholarships for the following academic year.
The 2014-2015 golf scholarship recipients will be volunteering at the tournament and include Lindsay Adams, Dylan Bunnell, Chelsea Carter, Kelsey Cooper, Ruby De La Pena, Mallory Hall, Hannah Hallmark, Jarrod Hardy, Georgiana Lamar, Jasmin Malone, John Malone, Alison Partlow, Kelton Riley, Katherine Roberts and Alyssa Schultz.
(L-R) McClary Ford Owner- Jim McClary, J.J. and Dottie Donahue, Scholarship Recipients- Kelsey Cooper and Alison Partlow, Debbie Merritt, Scholarship Recipient- Jarrod Hardy and McClary Ford General Manager- Mickey Smith
Individuals or businesses can sponsor a shared hole with sign for $100, a quarter hole with sign for $250, a half-hole with sign for $500, or an entire hole with banner for $1000. Team fees are $500 for a 4-person team and include lunch, greens fees, golf cart, refreshments, hospitality gifts and prizes. Or, you can just join us for lunch from Greenbrier for $10.
McClary Ford is sponsoring the Hole-In-One prize of a 2015 Ford Mustang, and skill prizes will be awarded by Osbornes and Pepsi for Best Score, Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin. In addition, Huntsville International Airport has provided a $500 travel voucher and there will be a 50/50 cash pot. Chances for the travel voucher are $5 and chances for the 50/50 pot are $1. You do not have to be present to win the travel voucher or 50/50 pot. Winners will be chosen after the tournament during the awards presentations.
Contact the Athens State Office of Alumni Affairs at alumni@athens.edu or 256-233-8185 to reserve your team or to sponsor a hole or visit the event page at www.athens.edu/golfclassic.
MEDIA RELEASE/ATHENS STATE UNIVERSITY/GUY MCCLURE
