University providing support for U.S. Women's Open

U.S. Women's Open website.

In less than three weeks, the world is coming to Mississippi. West Point, Mississippi, to be precise.

Thanks to 1966 Mississippi State business graduate George Bryan, the 54th U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship is scheduled May 31-June 6 at West Point's Old Waverly Golf Club.

During that week, the eyes of the sporting world will be focused just 20 miles up the road from the MSU campus, where 150 of the world's best golfers will compete for more than $1.5 million in prize money and the most coveted title in women's golf.

With 16 hours of live television coverage on ESPN and NBC broadcast to more than 75 countries around the world and some 400 media representatives expected, the state's image is on the line.

The first major golf tournament in state history is expected to draw 100,000 spectators and have an economic impact of $15 million on the Golden Triangle area. The event also is allowing Mississippi State to showcase its mission of teaching, research and service.

"We are excited about the exposure and opportunities such an international event brings to our state, but we also are excited about the opportunities it allows for us to showcase Mississippi State University and the quality of our students, faculty, and research, and service missions," said President Malcolm Portera.

"We have been actively involved in several areas of the championship virtually since its inception. We are committed to supporting George Bryan and his championship staff in their efforts to put on the best championship possible."

Several Mississippi State students will benefit from the championship by gaining real-world experience they can use after they graduate, including Professional Golf Management and Golf and Sports Turf Management majors who are interning or working during the event.

"The open means a great deal to the PGM program at Mississippi State," said Scott Maynard, program director. "It is a great learning and teaching opportunity as a case study in marketing and merchandising, and it allows us an opportunity to highlight the PGM program through our students. It gives them a level of experience that not very many people in this industry have an opportunity to get. It will help set them apart in the future."

Blane Merritt, MSU's director of golf and a 1987 PGM graduate, said the entire MSU Golf Course staff will be involved during championship week.

"We have volunteered our services and will help out in many ways," said Merritt. "We'll also get a lot of overflow play from visitors to the championship. The open will definitely have an impact on our golf program and on the university all the way around."

Among some of the other ways the university is assisting the championship effort include:

• providing vans for transportation during championship week;
• supplementing Old Waverly's merchandise staff;
• creating detailed maps of the Old Waverly course using a global positioning system to help make groundskeeping more effective;
• designing mixers for the course's main lake that will evenly mix the cold and warm lake water during summer rains to more effectively distribute the oxygen in the water and prevent fish kill;
• creating and maintaining the championship's World Wide Web site;
• developing an activity plan to help the Old Waverly course superintendent know the optimum work times and locations for grounds personnel;
• promoting the event through various means, including announcements at sporting events;
• distributing ticket information through athletic mailings;
• sponsoring the Vince Gill/Patty Loveless concert on Friday, June 4, in Humphrey Coliseum; and
• housing tournament volunteers and support staff in campus residence halls during championship week.

In addition, Old Waverly General Manager Wilkes Bryan (interdisciplinary studies, '95), Course Superintendent Bill Colloredo (golf and sports turf management, '82), and Assistant Golf Professional Jon Crane (Professional Golf Management, '98) are just three of many alumni who have major roles in the championship.

Other activities besides golf scheduled for the week include a "Mississippi Homecoming" which will bring home 30 of the state's most recognized celebrities; a Mississippi Block Party in downtown West Point following Saturday's (June 5) play featuring nationally and locally known bands playing Mississippi music and booths displaying products and services of Mississippi companies, and a Mississippi Pavilion tent at the front entrance to the golf course that will feature the wares of the state's finest artisans and craftsmen during the week.

To order tickets to the 54th U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship, call (662) 495-1999 or toll-free 1-888-495-1999. Tickets for the practice rounds, May 31 to June 2, are $10 per day. Championship round tickets, June 3 to June 6, are $18 per day. Season passes for the entire week are $75 each. Through the "Kids Get a Front Seat" promotion, children 15 and under are admitted free daily when accompanied by a paying adult. The front row in all on-course grandstands will be reserved throughout the championship for children.