On May 4, the Miss Lou Chapter of the National Football Foundation will host the oldest running golf tournament in the Natchez area: The Joe Fortunato – Allen Brown Golf Classic at Duncan Park Golf Course.

The golf classic has been held annually since the late 1980s and is the primary fundraiser for the Miss Lou Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholarship Fund. Our NFF-CHOF mission is to promote the power of amateur football in developing the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, competitive zeal and drive for academic excellence in America’s young people.

This year at our foundation’s scholarship banquet, we awarded $10,000 to the following local scholar athletes: in school alphabetic order: ACCS’s Dawson Cayle Parker; Cathedral’s Lance Thomas Gaude, Jr.; Delta Charter School’s Christian Trey Poole; Ferriday’s Larry Jveion Scott; Natchez High’s Paul Hargrave Jr.; and Vidalia High’s Nathan Cole Nations. Each scholar athlete proudly represented his school with honor. 

The golf tournament tee times are at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. with shotgun start. We encourage everyone to come out and support this great cause as 100% of the proceeds —after banquet and tournament expenses — go to the scholarship fund.   

Lunch will be provided for player and spouse from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Joe Fortunato-Allen Brown Golf Classic is well known for its gourmet lunches prepared by our excellent Cook Team led by Allen Brown. If you have never eaten Allen’s barbecue beans, you need to come on out and enjoy a great meal. Along with great food and beverages, our event atmosphere is deep rooted with laughter, smiles, humor and great stories. Everyone has a memorable time.

Golfers and non-golfers have an opportunity to join the excitement by purchasing tickets for the ball drop, which awards $1,000 to the winner. Hole-in-One prizes are sponsored by our awesome supporters at Great River Chevrolet-GMC. If a golfer makes a hole in one, he or she can win the following outstanding prizes: No. 9 hole, a 2019 GMC Terrain valued at $30,000; No. 6 hole, a vacation for four at the exquisite and breathtaking Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa in Lajitas Texas; No. 13 hole, choice of swing caddie SC2000 portable launch monitor or L4 laser rangefinder with scope; and No. 15 hole, a $500 Nike golf shopping spree.

Also, for golfers, the No. 2 hole Shootout gives two golfers a chance to win a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, valued at $40,000. In addition, there will also be prizes for each winning flight, ditty bags for each golfer, door prizes, raffle prizes, closest to the hole prize, and the longest drive prize for both the morning and afternoon flights.

We have corporate and tee box sponsorships available. If one is interested in advertising a business, sponsoring a tee box, or even placing a political sign at a tee box or on the course, please email me at fsandel@msn.com or call 601-493-6450. Entry fee to the tournament is $100 per golfer. Please visit our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/nffmisslou. Our Miss Lou Chapter of the National Football Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and your contribution to our organization is tax deductible. 

The Miss Lou Chapter wishes to take this opportunity to humbly thank each of our supporters, our donors, our golfers and each of you who help us with our scholarship efforts. Without the help from our community, we wouldn’t be successful in achieving our goals of promoting our scholar athletes. Thank you! You are truly appreciated.

Freddie Sandel is a member of the Miss Lou Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.