BILOXI, Miss. - The University of Mississippi, Mississippi State and University of Southern Mississippi will host the inaugural Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational Oct. 14-17. Invited teams include Auburn, University of Nevada – Las Vegas, Wisconsin, University of Kansas, UCF, Colorado, Iowa and Southern Methodist University.

“The University of Mississippi is pleased to partner with Mississippi State and Southern Miss to host this prestigious event,” said Ole Miss Golf Coach Chris Malloy. “Fallen Oak has hosted many of the greatest golfers in the world for PGA TOUR Champions events and now it’s our opportunity to bring golf’s next generation of champions to compete on one of the most spectacular courses in the country.”

“This tournament is being hosted by the State’s three major universities at the State’s top golf course” said Mississippi Power Vice President of External Affairs and Shared Services Billy Thornton. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase our legendary Southern hospitality and beautiful Coast to collegiate golfers, families and fans from around the U.S.”

The three day, 54-hole tournament will begin Sunday, Oct. 15 and conclude on Tuesday, Oct. 17. Six male student athletes from each university will compete for team and individual championships. A collegiate-am will precede the tournament on Saturday, Oct. 14.

“The Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational will include the kind of exciting, family-friendly on-campus tailgating atmosphere that makes game days especially fun, whether you’re an Ole Miss Rebel, Mississippi State Bulldog or USM Golden Eagle,” said Hancock Whitney Commercial Banking Senior Vice President James Kaigler. “We encourage spectators to wear school colors and cheer on their favorite university.”

The Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational will offer a College Game Day atmosphere on Sunday, Oct. 15 with family fun, food trucks, and a tailgate party on the finishing hole, complete with the New Orleans Saints game playing on the big screen. Whether a cow bell ringing Mississippi State Bulldog, or a Southern Miss Golden Eagle singing ‘To the Top,’ all are invited to this free event.

“We are proud to partner with a number of organizations to bring a new era of live championship golf to the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” said Frank Bertucci, President of FEB Distributing.

For more information about collegiate-am teams and sponsorships, contact Tournament Director Ashley Comstock at 228-234-9953 or FallenOakCollegiate@gmail.com. Commitments from Beau Rivage, Coca-Cola, F.E.B. Distributing, Hancock Whitney, Harrah’s Gulf Coast and Mississippi Power have made this event possible.

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CONTACTS:

Josie Hutton, University of Mississippi 662.915.7522  jhutton@go.olemiss.edu
Brian Ogden, Mississippi State  972.977.7459  bogden@athletics.msstate.edu
Jack Duggan, University of Southern Mississippi  601.266.5947  jack.duggan@usm.edu