Invitational Brings in Over $90,000 for Scholarships

MOUNT OLIVE – Approximately $90,000 was raised this year from the 27th Annual Handy Mart – University of Mount Olive Invitational Golf Tournament held at Southern Wayne Country Club.  This year’s proceeds bring the total amount raised since the event began in 1987, to over $2.3 million dollars.  To date, 573 scholarships have been provided to University of Mount Olive students from the annual Handy Mart golf tournaments.

Jay Joyner and Brent Parrish emerged the champions of this year’s tournament.  They shot a phenomenal two-day score of 23-under par, 119 total. The two-day event, which has more than 100 sponsors and patrons combined, helps fuel the MOC scholarship fund.

“Over the years, University of Mount Olive has enjoyed tremendous support from many loyal sponsors,” said Judson Pope, president of EJ Pope and Son, Inc. doing business as Handy Mart and Pope Transport Co.  “This year’s tournament continued that tradition.  University of Mount Olive and the Pope family are truly grateful for all the sponsor monies and the time that the many volunteers commit to the event.  Without both of these, the event would be impossible to run.  Thank you for your continued support to the University of Mount Olive – Handy Mart Invitational.”

University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park and Washington.  For more information, visit www.moc.edu.

Pictured (L-R):  Howard Hunt, golf pro at Southern Wayne Country Club; Dwayne McKay, director of Planned Giving at MOC; Brent Parrish; Jay Joyner and Judson Pope, president of EJ Pope, Inc.