The 52nd Sanderson Farms Championship will be played this week at the Country Club of Jackson. The tournament has been a mainstay in Mississippi since 1968. It began as the Magnolia Classic in 1968 in Hattiesburg. Sanderson has been the lead sponsor since 2013. Since Sanderson Farms took over sponsorship of the tournament, it has donated $8.1 million to charities. Of that, $1.375 million has gone to the Batson Children’s Hospital.
The 2018 champion will be back in Cameron Champ. It is Champ’s only PGA Tour win since turning pro in 2017. Ryan Armour, who won the 2017 Sanderson Farms tournament, has earned $6.6 million in his career that began on the PGA Tour in 2007. Other past Sanderson Farms champions who will be at the tournament this week are Nick Taylor, Peter Malnati, Cody Gribble, Scott Stallings, D.J. Trahan and Chad Campbell. This year’s tournament’s winner will secure an invitation to the 2020 Masters Golf Tournament. The champion will be presented a check for $1.1 million, and the total purse is $6.6 million. The Golf Channel will televise the event live Thursday-Sunday afternoon.
MINSHEW SHOWS OUT
Gardner Minshew almost led the Jacksonville Jaguars to an upset of the Houston Texans. The Jaguars scored in the final seconds and, trailing by one point (13-12), went for the two-point conversion, which fell inches short. The rookie quarterback from Brandon was 23-of-33 for 213 yards with two touchdowns. He was also his team’s leading rusher with 56 yards. This Thursday night, Minshew and the Jags will battle Tennessee on the NFL Network.
ODDS & ENDS
— Dak Prescott was impressive as he completed 26-of-30 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns in the Cowboys’ 31-21 win over the Redskins.
— The New Orleans Saints fell to the LA Rams, 27-9, this past Sunday. The Saints’ All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees injured his thumb on his throwing hand early in the game, and the Saints offensive unit was not effective after his departure.
— Jake Mangum helped lead his Brooklyn team to the New York-Penn league championship. The former MSU star batted .247 in 53 games.
— The Jackson (TN) Generals won the Southern League Championship over the Biloxi Shuckers in a five-game series.
Dale McKee is a native of Waynesboro and has been writing sports in Mississippi since 1973. His column appears in several weekly papers throughout the state. You may contact him at ddmckee18@yahoo.com
