Popular Ole Miss and Mississippi State head football coaches to participate in PGA Champions Tour event during 2015 Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic
Biloxi, Miss. (March 24, 2015) – Dan Mullen, head football coach at Mississippi State University, and Ole Miss head football coach Hugh Freeze will headline a group of 212 community leaders, business executives and elected officials playing in the C Spire Pro-Am golf event on Thursday, March 26 at Fallen Oak in Biloxi.
Freeze, Mullen and other amateur golfers will play alongside 53 professional golfers from the PGA Champions Tour participating in the 2015 Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic. The tournament, now in its sixth year with a $1.6 million purse, will feature nine World Golf Hall of Famers, six Masters Champions, 19 PGA TOUR major championship winners, led by defending champion Jeff Maggert, and 26 of the top 30 money winners from 2014, including 2011 champion Tom Lehman, 2012 champion Fred Couples and 2013 champion Michael Allen.
Mullen, who is entering his seventh season as the Bulldogs head coach, has led the school to five straight post-season bowl appearances, three consecutive victories over top 10 teams and a No. 1 national ranking for most of the 2014 college football season. “I’m looking forward to visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast and playing in this tournament with some of the world’s best golfers,” Mullen said. “The Coast is such an important part of our state and to be able to assist with an event that has such a significant economic impact is important to all of us at Mississippi State University.”
Freeze, who is playing for the first time in the event and entering his fourth season as Rebels head coach, has led the team to three straight post-season bowl appearances, three consecutive seasons with a winning record and top national rankings for much of the year in 2014. “It’s always good to return to south Mississippi and the Gulf Coast, which holds a special place in my heart,” said Freeze, a University of Southern Mississippi alumnus. “I’m looking forward to a great day of golf and fellowship.”
C Spire is presenting sponsor of the tournament, one of 12 consortium partners and title sponsor of the Pro-Am event. “We’re excited about Dan and Hugh participating in the C Spire Pro-Am and we look forward to a great day of golf as we continue to build the reputation of this first class tournament, which is a major contributor to the economic health of the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” said Jim Richmond, vice president of Corporate Communications for C Spire. “With some of the world’s best Champions Tour golfers coming to our state and playing in this event, we know it will have a positive impact on the region’s economy.”
The tournament, scheduled for March 27-29, has generated nearly $77 million in direct economic impact on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and this year will surpass the $1 million mark in charitable giving since its inception in 2010. The three-day tournament is scheduled to air on the Golf Channel once again this year, exposing the region and its attractions to a live national audience.
Children 16 and under accompanied by an adult receive free admission. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
About C Spire
C Spire is a diversified telecommunications and technology services company that provides world-class service and a superior, comprehensive suite of customer-inspired wireless communications, ultra-high speed Internet access and a range of other telecommunications products and services to consumers and businesses. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire.
About the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic Presented by C Spire
In addition to C Spire as the tournament’s Presenting Sponsor, The Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic Presented by C Spire is uniquely funded by 12-14 other consortium partners, who see this event as an ideal way to promote the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The 2015 consortium partners are: Mississippi Power, Mississippi Development Authority, Beau Rivage Hotel & Resort-Fallen Oak, Harrah’s Gulf Coast, F.E.B. Distributing, Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Hard Rock Biloxi, Roy Anderson Corp, Hancock Bank, Yates Construction, IP Resort & Spa and Coca Cola. The tournament is administered through the MGRC Foundation, Inc. and will benefit Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
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