Sanderson Farms Championship

Sanderson Farms Championship

Tournament information
Location	Jackson, Mississippi
Established	1968
Course(s)	Country Club of Jackson
Par	72
Length	7,461 yards (6,822 m)
Organized by	Century Club Charities
Tour(s)	PGA Tour
Format	Stroke play
Prize fund	US$8,200,000
Month played	October
Tournament record score
Aggregate	263 Dan Halldorson (1986)
To par	−24 Scott Stallings (2012)
Current champion
Kevin Yu
Location map
CC of Jackson Location in United States Show map of the United States CC of Jackson Location in Mississippi Show map of Mississippi

The Sanderson Farms Championship is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, played annually in Mississippi. It moved to the Country Club of Jackson in Jackson in autumn 2014, early in the 2015 season.

The tournament has been part of the PGA Tour schedule since 1968, and has raised more than $8.1 million for statewide charities. Originally played at the Hattiesburg Country Club in Hattiesburg, the event moved in 1994 to Annandale Golf Club in Madison, which hosted through 2013.

Since 2013, the tournament's title sponsor has been Sanderson Farms, a poultry farming corporation based in Laurel, Mississippi. The tournament's host organization, Century Club Charities, is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is promoting the game of golf for the benefit of charity. The Sanderson Farms Championship's primary charity is Friends of Children's Hospital, which benefits the Batson's Children Hospital.

Course

The Country Club of Jackson opened in 1914. It is a private club with 27 championship holes, 18 of which were re-designed by John Fought in 2008 and measure 7,400 yards (6,800 m) from the championship tees. Fought's layout incorporates classic Donald Ross flavor – parkland style routing with smallish, tricky greens – which range in size from 5,000 to 8,500 square feet (460 to 790 m²).

History

The tournament was founded as the Magnolia Classic in 1968 and retained that title through 1985, with notable winners including Roger Maltbie, Craig Stadler, and Payne Stewart. Since 1986, the tournament has had several different names under title sponsorship agreements with Deposit Guaranty (1986–1998), Farm Bureau (1999–2006), Viking (2007–2011) and Sanderson Farms (since 2013); in 2012, it was without a title sponsor and named the True South Classic.

In the past, this tournament was generally played opposite of a major or limited field tournament (officially termed an "alternate event" by the PGA Tour). It later became part of the Fall Series, a group of events held after The Tour Championship, before returning to its former status as an alternate event in 2011. In either case, the leading players in men's professional golf rarely participate. Until 1994, it was played opposite the Masters Tournament and then opposite The Open Championship in the mid-1990s. More recently, it played opposite various World Golf Championships and The Tour Championship. From 2007 to 2010, it generally played opposite the major team events involving PGA Tour players, namely the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. In 2011, it returned to the PGA Tour regular season opposite the British Open in July.

It has been an official money event on the PGA Tour since 1994. Prior to that, it was a satellite event with the money counting but the wins counting as unofficial, except from 1983 to 1985, when it was instead part of the developmental Tournament Players Series.

From 2007 to 2010, it was part of the Fall Series. Because the FedEx Cup season championship was already determined by that time, elite players generally passed on Fall Series events; most players in the tournament were trying to either make the Top 125 on the money list and retain their tour cards, or earn a quick two-year exemption by winning. The 2007 event was played in the same week as the Presidents Cup; most of the top Tour players played in that event instead of the Viking Classic. The situation was similar in 2008, with the tournament being scheduled opposite the Ryder Cup. The 2009 purse was due to be $3,700,000, with $666,000 going to the winner. That year's event was also to be the first in the tournament's recent history to be the sole event on the PGA Tour schedule for that week, as it had been moved to the end of October with a scheduled finish on November 1. However, the tournament was canceled on October 31, due to unplayable conditions at the Annandale Golf Club. The event was not rescheduled. ^[1] The 2010 event was again held opposite the Ryder Cup. This would be the tournament's last fall edition, as it would move into the regular season the following year. In 2013, the title sponsor changed to Sanderson Farms. ^[2] The tournament was not held in the 2013–14 season because of the new PGA Tour wraparound season; the 2014 tournament, part of the 2014–15 season, moved to late October and was played opposite the WGC-HSBC Champions in China. ^[3]

As an alternate event, the winner did not receive an invitation to the Masters Tournament, but did earn a trip to the PGA Championship, a two-year PGA Tour exemption, a minimum of 24 OWGR points, and 300 FedEx Cup points. For the 2019–20 season, the tournament was upgraded from an alternate event to a full status event; it was also rescheduled to September, as the second tournament of the PGA Tour season. Along with an increased prize fund, the changed of status meant the winner receives the full benefits of a regular PGA Tour event, with 500 FedEx Cup points and an invitation to The Masters. ^[4]

Over the years, the Sanderson Farms Championship has been played opposite a number of different tournaments:

Year(s)	Tournament
2014–2018	WGC-HSBC Champions
1994–1998, 2011–2013	The Open Championship
2008, 2010	Ryder Cup
2007	Presidents Cup
2003–2004, 2006	WGC-American Express Championship
1999–2002, 2005	Tour Championship
1969–1993	Masters Tournament
1968	Colonial National Invitation

Winners

Year	Tour [lower-alpha 1]	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Purse ($)	Winner's share ($)	Ref.
Sanderson Farms Championship
2024	PGAT	Kevin Yu	265	−23	Playoff	Beau Hossler	7,600,000	1,368,000
2023	PGAT	Luke List	270	−18	Playoff	Ludvig Åberg Ben Griffin Henrik Norlander Scott Stallings	8,200,000	1,476,000
2022	PGAT	Mackenzie Hughes	271	−17	Playoff	Sepp Straka	7,900,000	1,422,000
2021	PGAT	Sam Burns	266	−22	1 stroke	Nick Watney Cameron Young	7,000,000	1,260,000
2020	PGAT	Sergio García	269	−19	1 stroke	Peter Malnati	6,600,000	1,188,000
2019	PGAT	Sebastián Muñoz	270	−18	Playoff	Im Sung-jae	6,600,000	1,188,000
2018	PGAT	Cameron Champ	267	−21	4 strokes	Corey Conners	4,400,000	792,000
2017	PGAT	Ryan Armour	269	−19	5 strokes	Chesson Hadley	4,300,000	774,000
2016	PGAT	Cody Gribble	268	−20	4 strokes	Chris Kirk Luke List Greg Owen	4,200,000	756,000
2015	PGAT	Peter Malnati	270	−18	1 stroke	William McGirt David Toms	4,100,000	738,000
2014	PGAT	Nick Taylor	272	−16	2 strokes	Jason Bohn Boo Weekley	4,000,000	720,000
2013	PGAT	Woody Austin	268	−20	Playoff	Cameron Beckman Daniel Summerhays	3,000,000	540,000
True South Classic
2012	PGAT	Scott Stallings	264	−24	2 strokes	Jason Bohn	3,000,000	540,000
Viking Classic
2011	PGAT	Chris Kirk	266	−22	1 stroke	George McNeill Tom Pernice Jr.	3,600,000	648,000
2010	PGAT	Bill Haas	273	−15	3 strokes	Michael Allen	3,600,000	648,000
2009	PGAT	Canceled due to rain							[1]
2008	PGAT	Will MacKenzie	269	−19	Playoff	Brian Gay Marc Turnesa	3,600,000	648,000
2007	PGAT	Chad Campbell	275	−13	1 stroke	Johnson Wagner	3,500,000	630,000
Southern Farm Bureau Classic
2006	PGAT	D. J. Trahan	275	−13	Playoff	Joe Durant	3,000,000	540,000
2005	PGAT	Heath Slocum	267	−21	2 strokes	Carl Pettersson Loren Roberts	3,000,000	540,000
2004	PGAT	Fred Funk (2)	266	−22	1 stroke	Ryan Palmer	3,000,000	540,000
2003	PGAT	John Huston	268	−20	1 stroke	Brenden Pappas	3,000,000	540,000
2002	PGAT	Luke Donald	201 [lower-alpha 2]	−15	1 stroke	Deane Pappas	2,600,000	468,000
2001	PGAT	Cameron Beckman	269	−19	1 stroke	Chad Campbell	2,400,000	432,000
2000	PGAT	Steve Lowery	266	−22	Playoff	Skip Kendall	2,200,000	396,000
1999	PGAT	Brian Henninger (2)	202 [lower-alpha 3]	−14	3 strokes	Chris DiMarco	2,000,000	360,000
Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic
1998	PGAT	Fred Funk	270	−18	2 strokes	Paul Goydos Franklin Langham Tim Loustalot	1,200,000	216,000
1997	PGAT	Billy Ray Brown	271	−17	1 stroke	Mike Standly	1,000,000	180,000
1996	PGAT	Willie Wood	268	−20	1 stroke	Kirk Triplett	1,000,000	180,000
1995	PGAT	Ed Dougherty	272	−16	2 strokes	Gil Morgan	700,000	126,000
1994	PGAT	Brian Henninger	135 [lower-alpha 4]	−9	Playoff	Mike Sullivan	700,000	126,000
1993		Greg Kraft	267	−13	1 stroke	Morris Hatalsky Tad Rhyan	300,000	54,000
1992		Richard Zokol	267	−13	1 stroke	Mike Donald Bob Eastwood Mike Nicolette Greg Twiggs	300,000	54,000
1991		Larry Silveira	266	−14	Playoff	Russ Cochran Mike Nicolette	300,000	54,000
1990		Gene Sauers	268	−12	2 strokes	Jack Ferenz	300,000	54,000
1989		Jim Booros	199 [lower-alpha 2]	−11	Playoff	Mike Donald	200,000	36,000
1988		Frank Conner	267	−13	5 strokes	Brian Mogg	200,000	36,000
1987		David Ogrin	267	−13	1 stroke	Nick Faldo	200,000	36,000
1986		Dan Halldorson	263	−17	2 strokes	Paul Azinger	200,000	36,000
Magnolia Classic
1985		Jim Gallagher Jr.	131 [lower-alpha 4]	−9	Playoff	Paul Azinger	150,000	27,500	[6]
1984		Lance Ten Broeck	201	−9	Playoff	Mike Smith	150,000	27,000	[7]
1983		Russ Cochran	203 [lower-alpha 2]	−7	2 strokes	Sammy Rachels	150,000	27,000	[8]
1982		Payne Stewart	270	−10	3 strokes	Jay Cudd Bruce Douglass	75,000	13,500	[9]
1981		Tom Jones	268	−12	Playoff	Mike Smith	75,000	13,500	[10]
1980		Roger Maltbie	65 [lower-alpha 5]	−5	1 stroke	Lee Carter	25,000 [lower-alpha 6]	4,500	[11]
1979		Bobby Walzel	272	−8	Playoff	Buddy Gardner	50,000	9,000	[12]
1978		Craig Stadler	268	−12	1 stroke	Bob Eastwood Bruce Fleisher	35,000	7,000	[13]
1977		Mike McCullough	269	−11	3 strokes	Gary Groh Orville Moody	35,000	7,000	[14]
1976		Dennis Meyer	271	−9	2 strokes	Artie McNickle Tom Purtzer	35,000	7,000	[15] [16]
1975		Bob Wynn	270	−10	2 strokes	Mike Morley	35,000	7,000	[17]
1974		Dwight Nevil (2)	133 [lower-alpha 4]	−7	2 strokes	Bunky Henry Gil Morgan	17,500 [lower-alpha 6]	3,500	[18]
1973		Dwight Nevil	268	−12	3 strokes	Bert Greene	35,000	7,000	[19]
1972		Mike Morley	269	−11	3 strokes	Rick Rhodes	35,000	7,000	[20]
1971		Roy Pace	270	−10	1 stroke	Jack Lewis Jr.	35,000	7,000	[21]
1970		Chris Blocker	271	−9	1 stroke	Roy Pace Martin Roesink	35,000	5,000	[22]
1969		Larry Mowry	272	−8	1 stroke	Larry Hinson Alvin Odom	35,000	5,000	[23]
1968		Mac McLendon	269	−11	Playoff	Pete Fleming	20,000	2,800	[24]

Multiple winners

Three men have won this tournament twice:

• Dwight Nevil: 1973, 1974
• Brian Henninger: 1994, 1999
• Fred Funk: 1998, 2004

See also

• Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum ("Viking Classic Exhibit")

Notes

1. PGAT − PGA Tour.
2. Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.
3. Shortened to 54 holes because the PGA Tour suspended all play October 29 as a result of Payne Stewart's funeral. ^[5]
4. Shortened to 36 holes due to weather.
5. Shortened to 18 holes due to weather.
6. Only half the original purse was paid due to weather-shortened tournament.

References

1. "Viking Classic canceled after constant rains flood course". PGA Tour. October 31, 2009.
2. "Sanderson Farms becomes 2013 title sponsor for former True South Classic". PGA Tour. March 11, 2013.
3. "Sanderson Farms renews title sponsorship of PGA Tour tournament". PGA Tour. September 3, 2013.
4. Cleveland, Tyler (January 15, 2019). "Sanderson Farms golf tournament has a new date and a huge cash prize. But that's not all". Mississippi Clarion Ledger.
5. "Golfers compete with heavy hearts at Southern Farm Bureau Classic" . Hattiesburg American. Mississippi. Associated Press. October 28, 1999. p. 1D – via newspapers.com.
6. "Gallagher beats Azinger in Magnolia Classic playoff". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. April 16, 1985. p. 8C.
7. "Ten Broeck wins Magnolia". Wilmington Morning Star. North Carolina. AP. April 16, 1984. p. 5B.
8. "Cochran wins Magnolia Golf". TimesDaily. Florence, Alabama. UPI. April 12, 1983. p. 12.
9. "Stewart win Magnolia". TimesDaily. Florence, Alabama. UPI. April 12, 1982. p. 12.
10. "Jones Takes Magnolia Event". Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. AP. April 13, 1981. p. 8-C.
11. "Rain Halts Magnolia, Maltbie Gets Victory". The Victoria Advocate. Texas. AP. April 14, 1980. p. 3B.
12. "Walzel Wins Magnolia Golf". The Dispatch. Lexington, North Carolina. AP. April 16, 1979. p. 15.
13. "Stadler shoots 63 for victory". Boca Raton News. Florida. April 10, 1978. p. 2B.
14. "McCullough wins". The Bryan Times. Ohio. UPI. April 11, 1977. p. 15.
15. "Meyer Wins Magnolia". The Spartanburg Herald. South Carolina. AP. April 11, 1976. p. B2.
16. "Magnolia!". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. April 12, 1976. p. 18.
17. "Wynn Takes Magnolia Title". The Milwaukee Journal. Wisconsin. UPI. April 14, 1975. p. part 2–11.
18. "Nevil Wins 'Satellite' Magnolia". Schenectady Gazette. New York. AP. April 15, 1974. p. 30.
19. "Nevil wins Magnolia". Wilmington Morning Star. North Carolina. UPI. April 8, 1973. p. 1C.
20. "Morley Takes Magnolia Win". The Spartanburg Herald. South Carolina. AP. April 10, 1972. p. B2.
21. "Roy Pace Magnolia Champion". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Florida. AP. April 12, 1971. p. 2-C.
22. "Blocker Finally Blossoms". The Owosso Argus-Press. Michigan. AP. April 13, 1970. p. 20.
23. "Mowry Captures Magnolia Golf". The Palm Beach Post. Florida. UPI. April 15, 1969. p. 15.
24. "M'Lendon Wins Magnolia Golf". The Fresno Bee. California. AP. May 20, 1968. p. 5-B.

External links

• Official website
• Coverage on the PGA Tour's official site

32°23′49″N90°05′53″W / 32.397°N 90.098°W / 32.397; -90.098