VALDOSTA —
The 73rd annual Jack Oliver Invitational tees off Friday at the Valdosta Country Club.
Like in years past, this year’s event will feature two flights for players. The Championship Flight is a three-day, stroke-play event where players compete in 54 holes across three days. The Stableford Flight is a two-day event, starting Saturday, and features competitors competing in a point-system, earning different point values for different scores on holes.
“(The Jack Oliver) brings a lot of money into Valdosta because people come in from all around,” said Johnny B. Lastinger, who played in the tournament for 32 consecutive years and has been associated with the event since 1950. “It is not as big as it used to be because tournament golf isn’t that big any more, but it is an awesome event. It always has been. I remember growing up and watching it. In 1940, when it started, I was eight. So I’ve watched it grow.”
The winner of the Championship Flight will be awarded the Frank Eldrige Trophy and their name will be engraved on the trophy for future years. Eldrige was a seven-time champion of the Jack Oliver Invitational.
This year’s tournament director is Nic Daugharty, a six-time champion of the tournament and a continuous participant since 1990.
“This golf tournament has been going on since 1940,” Daugharty said. “You’ve had people like Dynamite Goodloe win it nine times.”
This year’s event will benefit the Jack Oliver Memorial Scholarship Fund in partnership with the Valdosta State University Foundation.
“What I want to do is maintain that scholarship fund, even when I am gone,” said Oliver’s grandson, Jack Oliver. “We can raise money through contributions. Can you imagine Athens-Clarke County without the University of Georgia? Can you imagine Lowndes County-Valdosta without VSU? I just wanted to repay back the community for what it’s done for all of us. I want to support the local community as much as I can.”
Named after Jack Oliver, whose actual name was Warrington Maxwell Oliver, the Invitational has been running at the Valdosta Country Club since 1940. Prior to OIiver’s passing in 1940, the event was named the Valdosta Invitational Tournament.
Known for being a pioneer for the game of golf in and around Valdosta, one of Oliver’s main interests was getting more Valdosta natives to play golf. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the Georgia State Golf Association.
“It is good the tournament has maintained,” said the younger Oliver. “And of course there are a lot of tournaments going on during the summer in South Georgia, and we have been fortunate to have a lot of help from our sponsors.”
After a few down years with participation, the Jack Oliver Invitational enjoyed a successful year in 2011, with 104 participants. This year, Daugharty is hoping the tournament eclipses last year’s mark. Interested persons looking to compete in this year’s event may still register by contacting the Valdosta Country Club.
Local Sports
73rd annual Jack Oliver tees off Friday
- Local Sports
-
-
Gillespie, McPherson pleased with spring practices
Valdosta’s Rance Gillespie and Lowndes’ Randy McPherson both think their football teams got better during the recent 10 days of spring practice.
Then again, both coaches know their teams have a ways to go before the start of the football season. -
Signing day at VHS
It was signing day galore at Valdosta High School Wednesday.
Six student-athletes signed national letter of intents to compete at the next level, while two VHS athletes both signed academic scholarships to Division I universities. -
Powell signs with Shorter
Robert Powell, a member of the basketball team on South Georgia State College’s Waycross Campus, has signed a letter of intent to continue his basketball career at Shorter University in Rome.
-
Sending the Blazers off
The Valdosta State softball team made the long journey to Salem, Va. Tuesday, leaving Valdosta at 10:30 a.m. with devoted fans cheering them out of the parking lot.
-
All-Region teams announced
Lowndes was one win away from a trip to the Class AAAAAA state semifinals, and the success by the Vikings this season showed when the All-Region 1 baseball teams were announced Monday.
-
Lowndes tennis dominates
Lowndes’ tennis team dominated the All-Region 1 teams, with coach Heath Phelps garnering Coach of the Year honors on both the girls’ and boys’ side.
-
Banks Lake Youth Fishing Derby a success
The 13th annual Banks Lake Youth Fishing Derby held May 11 drew 150 children from ages 3 to 15 who competed for trophies while learning how to fish.
-
Valdosta's Alakulppi ties for 2nd at state
Valdosta freshman golfer Luukas Alakulppi fired a 71 to finish in a tie for second at the Class AAAAAAA state golf tournament in Tifton.
-
Brooks County's Parrish in Rivals Top 100
Brooks County rising senior Malkolm Parrish is ranked the 73rd best high school football prospect in the nation, according to the release of the Rivals.com Top 100.
-
Summer camp information
VSU baseball camp coming soon
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Gillespie, McPherson pleased with spring practices
