Call it a huge success.
A team sponsored by Embark Staffing and 31 other teams on Friday helped to cap a terrific two-day event with the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the MU Alumni Association.
The association held the Tiger Ball & Scholarship Auction presented by Meyer Farms, KTXTR HD and KWTO on Thursday, with none other than Gary Pinkel – the winningest coach in Mizzou football history – attending.
Pinkel delivered a nearly 15-minute speech during the event as the association raised scholarship dollars for students, adding to a five-year total of more than $110,000.
Pinkel spoke of the overall impact of recruiting high schoolers who would be the first in their family to attend college. “It wasn’t about football. It was more than football. They would get their degree, marry someone who had a degree and their family would get degrees,” Pinkel said. “You would change an entire family’s trajectory.”
Meanwhile, the MU Alumni Golf Tournament presented by Great Southern Bank drew 32 teams and nearly 130 golfers to Millwood Golf and Racquet Club on Friday. The Embark Staffing team of Chase Banta, Eric Francis, Nathan Frederick and Justin Campbell won the championship flight, shooting a 56.
A team representing Old Missouri Bank won the A Flight with a 60. The team consisted of Randy Smith, John Maupin, Jeff Yoakam and Todd Buzbee.
Winning B Flight was a team sponsored by Wendy’s local owners Sam, June and Mike Hamra. The team shot a 63 and consisted of Josh Sloan, Joe Combs, Chuck Ocarz and Nic Adams.
Winning C Flight was a team sponsored by Lathrop & Gage. It featured Dan Nelson, Mike Nelson, Dustin Nelson and Dane Hobbs and fired a 65.
The day included numerous on-course games:
Longest Drive (65 and older)
Mike Nelson on No. 18
Closest to the Pin
- Runge on No. 17
Longest Drive (ages 45-64)
Tim Blasi on No. 14
Longest Drive (44 and younger)
Matt Capen on No. 2
Closest to the Pin
John Maupin on No. 5