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 Under the leadership of the Office of Institutional Advancement, the college engaged the Augusta community to help the Paine College Golf Program as it evolves into a regionally and nationally ranked team. The inaugural event was held on Monday, August 31, 2009 at Jones Creek Golf Club. Jones Creek Golf Club features 6,928 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72 and a course rating of 73.9 and has a slopes rating of 139.
Jim Dent, Augusta native and Senior PGA Tour Player, served as Honorary Chair for the Inaugural Paine College Tournament. Augusta’s. Mayor Deke Copenhaver welcomed participants and presented Mr. Dent with a key to the city. Dr. George C. Bradley, the president of Paine College, greeted the tournament players and other guests.
The threesome Lauderdale format attracted 150 players (70 more than the original event plan). Tournament players included local and regional businessmen, retired educators, physicians, pastors, local and state politicians, members of the Richmond County sheriff and marshal departments and Paine College alumni and college professors. The median age of participants was approximately 45. Players included four members of the Augusta National, U.S. Attorney for the Southeast, Ed Tarver, Augusta State Representative Quincy Murphy, Georgia State Senator Hardie Davis, Atlanta State Representative Ernest “Coach” Williams, County Commissioner Joe Bowles, First Tee of Augusta Player Jermy Porche (a participant on Jim Dent’s Team) and two 10-year-old players. Players participated from Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia
and various cities outside of Augusta, Georgia.
Professional Golfer, Kyle Bradley from North Augusta, SC, supported the event as the guest pro player for the “Pro Hit a Drive” event on hole #5 to enhance the fund-raising efforts.
In 2009-2010 sponsors included Jim Hudson Lexus of Augusta as a hole in one sponsor
with the winning prize of a Lexus car and P. F. Chang China Bistro sponsored a par
3 hole with gift certificates valued from $10 and $50. Major sponsors included Graves Engineering Services, Inc., Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc., Club Car, Inc., Phoenix Printing Company, American Airlines, Coca Cola Bottling Company, DoubleTree,
Outback Steakhouse, Georgia Bank & Trust and Subway as well as several local
golf shops and golf courses. Several local businesses supported by purchasing ads
in the souvenir journal, provided in-kind services and several local golf shops
and golf courses provided prizes. A number of individuals and some companies supported
the tournament with monetary contributions.
The local ABC affiliate, WJBF-TV News Channel 6, Golf writer, David Westin of the Augusta Chronicle, provided majors support as sponsors in 2009 and 2010.
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