Sanderson Farms, one of the nation’s leading poultry corporations and based in Laurel, Miss., has agreed to title sponsor the PGA Tour’s 2013 tournament at Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Miss., scheduled for July 18-21. The former True South Classic has been renamed the Sanderson Farms Championship.
In making this announcement, the PGA Tour, Sanderson Farms and host organization Century Club Charities said discussions regarding a possible longer-term relationship would take place following this year’s tournament.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Sanderson Farms as title sponsor of our tournament in Mississippi, which has been a mainstay on the PGA TOUR for 45 years,” said Andy Pazder, Chief of Operations for the PGA Tour. “We look forward to working with Sanderson Farms to meet its objectives as title sponsor in July and then begin discussions about the possibility of continuing its involvement beyond this year.”
“Mississippi is known for its hospitality and being a great host for the PGA Tour,” said Joe Sanderson Jr., Sanderson Farms chief executive officer and chairman of the board. “Sanderson Farms wants to continue that tradition and be a great host for this exciting event.”
“This tournament has great economic impact on the state of Mississippi and the metro Jackson area, not to mention the tremendous good it does for charity,” said Sanderson, when asked why the company stepped in as title sponsor. “We felt this was in line with our goals and mission at Sanderson Farms to be good citizens, support our communities and positively impact the tournament’s charities.”
“We are thrilled to have Sanderson Farms involved this year, and ecstatic about the possibility of a long-term relationship,” said Century Club Charities President Johnny Lang. “Sanderson Farms is a great, multi-generational Mississippi success story and a wonderful corporate citizen. They share our commitment to the state of Mississippi, Friends of Children’s Hospital and countless charities, our other sponsors, the volunteers and the PGA Tour to host a first-class event.”
