Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation relocating to Vanderbilt Legends Club beginning 2024

Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation relocating to Vanderbilt Legends Club beginning 2024

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The Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation remains in
middle Tennesseethrough at least 2028

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., April 30, 2024/PRNewswire/ -- The Korn Ferry Tour announced today a five-year partnership with the Vanderbilt Legends Club at Vanderbilt Universityto host the annual Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation beginning this season. The 2024 Simmons Bank Open will be played September 12-15on the North Course at Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tennessee, and the Tennessee Golf Foundation (TGF) will continue as the operator and host organization of the event.

"We are thrilled about the future of the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation," said Tennessee Golf Foundation President, Whit Turnbow. "Vanderbilt Universityand the Legends Club have been interwoven into the history of the TGF dating back to the early 1990s, and to align that relationship with the strategic vision of the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR University was a match made in heaven. The golf teams, staff and membership have been a joy to work with and we look forward to showing the Legends Club to the world in September!"

Founded in 1992, Vanderbilt Legends Club is a 36-hole golf club located approximately 20 miles south of downtown Nashville. The North Course at Vanderbilt Legends Club, which stretches 7,190 yards from the championship tees, was designed by world-renowned golf course architect Bob Cupp, as well as World Golf Hall of Famer and 19-time PGA TOUR winner Tom Kite.

"I'm delighted that Vanderbilt Universityhas partnered with the PGA TOUR to keep the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation in the middle Tennesseearea," said Candice Storey Lee, Vanderbilt'svice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director. "We are extremely fortunate to have Vanderbilt Legends Club host a world-class event that will bring in some of the best golfers in the world to compete on the same course that our golfers play at on a daily basis. We hope that this partnership will continue to enrich a growing golf community in the greater Nashvillearea while showing support for Brandt, Mandy, and the Snedeker Foundation."

The courses at Vanderbilt Legends Club, as well as its pristine 19-acre practice facility, are widely recognized among the finest in Tennessee. The club has hosted numerous competitions, including the Tennessee State Open (1993-96), Southeastern Conference Women's Championship (1995), LPGA Franklin American Mortgage Championship hosted by Vince Gill& Amy Grant(2000-06), NCAA Women's Golf Championship (2012), NCAA Women's Golf Franklin Regional (2022), and the annual Mason Rudolph Championship hosted by Vanderbilt.

The Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation is a 72-hole tournament that has been a staple on the Korn Ferry Tour schedule since the inaugural playing in 2016 (was not played in 2020 due to COVID-19). In 2022, the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation was honored with the prestigious Tournament of the Year Award as part of the PGA TOUR's annual Tournament Meetings. Last year, the tournament became a Korn Ferry Tour Finals event, where players compete for increased purses and points over the final four events of the season to determine the season-long points race and claim one of 30 PGA TOUR cards.

"We are thrilled to partner with the Vanderbilt Legends Club and look forward to showcasing its exceptional course and facilities as host of the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation," said Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin. "The Legends Club will serve as a great test for our players during the Korn Ferry Tour Finals as they compete to earn membership on golf's ultimate stage, the PGA TOUR. As up-and-coming stars continue to emerge from the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR University, we are excited to partner with Vanderbilt University, which is one of the most respected academic institutions in the Nation and also one of the top collegiate golf programs annually."

The Simmons Bank Open first announced in 2017 that The Snedeker Foundation would be the official charitable beneficiary of middle Tennessee'sonly PGA TOUR-sanctioned tournament. The Snedeker Foundation was founded in 2012 by nine-time PGA TOUR winner and 2012 FedExCup champion Brandt Snedekerand his wife, Mandy, to help serve different charities in middle Tennessee. The foundation supports a variety of efforts on both the social and athletic fronts, including Our Kids, which provides expert medical evaluations and crisis counseling services in response to concerns of child sexual abuse while also working to increase community awareness, education and training about child maltreatment.

"Mandy and I can't wait to welcome the Simmons Bank Open and the golf world to Vanderbilt Legends Club this September," said Brandt Snedeker. "Vanderbilt Universityhas played such a vital role in my life and career, and we have so many special friendships and relationships that continue to this day. To bring those together with our Korn Ferry Tour event, which directly benefits the Snedeker Foundation, is very exciting. With the Simmons Bank Open being part of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, and the national exposure and media coverage that comes along with that, this is a positive thing for everyone involved. We know our friends at the Tennessee Golf Foundation will put on a first-class experience that all of middle Tennesseecan be proud of."

Through the Tennessee Golf Foundation, the Snedeker Foundation annually supports the Sneds Tour, which puts forth a year-round junior golf tour in Tennesseeaimed at allowing kids to learn, play and enjoy the game of golf, while also making competition more affordable through lower entry and registration fees. The Snedeker Foundation has raised in excess of $1 millionfor charities in the region and The Simmons Bank Open is proud to partner with the Snedekers in support of their mission.

Snedeker is a Nashvillenative who later played collegiately at nearby Vanderbilt Universitybefore earning PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year honors in 2007. Prior to that, Snedeker got his start on the Korn Ferry Tour, where he won twice in 2006 and earned his PGA TOUR card for the 2007 season.

The 2024 Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation will take place September 12-15and all four rounds of competition will be broadcast on Golf Channel. For more information on the Simmons Bank Open, please visit www.simmonsbankopen.com. For more information on the Vanderbilt Legends Club, please visit www.vanderbiltlegendsclub.com.

About Simmons Bank Open
The Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation is owned and operated by the Tennessee Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Franklin, Tenn. The Simmons Bank Open was the Korn Ferry Tour Tournament of the Year in 2022. In 2023, the Simmons Bank Open became one of four tournaments making up the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, which determines which players receive PGA TOUR membership the following season. The Simmons Bank Open is played at Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin. It was formerly held at Nashville Golf and Athletic Club from 2016-19 and The Grove from 2021-2023. The Snedeker Foundation, the family foundation for 9-time PGA TOUR winner and 2012 FedExCup Champion Brandt Snedeker and wife Mandy, became the primary beneficiary of the tournament in 2017. Simmons Bank was introduced as the title sponsor of the tournament in February of 2020. For more information, visit www.simmonsbankopen.com.

About Simmons Bank
Simmons Bankis a wholly owned subsidiary of Simmons First National Corporation (NASDAQ: SFNC), a Mid-South based financial holding company that has paid cash dividends for 115 consecutive years. Simmons Bankoperates 234 branches in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennesseeand Texas. Founded in 1903, Simmons Bankoffers comprehensive financial solutions delivered with a client-centric approach. In 2023, Simmons Bankwas recognized by Forbes as one of "America's Best Midsize Employer" and among the "World's Best Banks" for the fourth consecutive year. The Simmons Bank Championship, a Charles Schwab Cup finals event, will debut in October, 2024 in Little Rock, Ark.Additional information about Simmons Bankcan be found on our website at simmonsbank.com, by following @Simmons_Bank on X (formerly Twitter) or by visiting our newsroom.

About Snedeker Foundation
The Snedeker Foundation has been the official charitable beneficiary of the Simmons Bank Open since 2017. Founded in 2012 by FedExCup Champion and nine-time PGA TOUR winner Brandt Snedekerand his wife Mandy, the Snedeker Foundation supports a variety of social and athletic endeavors in middle Tennessee, including: Our Kids, which provides expert medical evaluations and crisis counseling services in response to concerns of child sexual abuse, and The Sneds Tour, a statewide junior golf tour in Tennesseethat allows kids to learn, play and enjoy the game while also making the sport affordable and accessible.

About Tennessee Golf Foundation
The Tennessee Golf Foundation was founded in 1990 with the vision to impact Tennesseans, particularly youth, veterans and the disadvantaged, through the game of golf. TGF initiatives include the Sneds Tour, The First Tee of Tennessee, the Scott Stallings Kids Play Free Program, PGA HOPE, the Tennessee PGA Junior Golf Academy, the Tennessee Middle School Golf Association, Special Olympics Golf and much more. The Tennessee Golf Foundation operates out of Golf House Tennessee, which is located in Franklinand is home to the state's governing bodies of golf - the Tennessee Golf Foundation, the Tennessee Golf Association, and the Tennessee Section PGA. Golf House Tennessee features The Little Course at Conner Lane, a state-of-the-art learning center owned and operated by the TGF, which features a nine-hole, par-three course, driving range and practice area and has year-round programming for all ages and skill levels. The Tennessee Golf Foundation is a 501c(3) organization. For more information, visit www.tngolffoundation.org.

About Korn Ferry Tour
Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour identifies and develops golf's next stars, preparing them to compete and win on the game's biggest stage. The Korn Ferry Tour, which has served as a path to the PGA TOUR since its inception, will award 30 PGA TOUR cards based off its points list in 2024, with the No. 1 player earning exemptions into the following year's PLAYERS Championship and U.S. Open. With more than 600 PGA TOUR titles, 30 major championships and seven FedExCup champions, Korn Ferry Tour alumni make up 83 percent of the PGA TOUR's current membership. To learn more about the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour and to follow the season-long quest for PGA TOUR cards, visit PGATOUR.COM or follow the Korn Ferry Tour on social media. At least seven Korn Ferry Tour events are televised annually on Golf Channel in the United States, with tournament coverage available internationally in more than 170 countries and territories via 23 media partners.

SOURCE Simmons Bank

For further information: Preston Edwards, PGA TOUR Communications, [email protected]; Darren Reese, Tennessee Golf Foundation Communications, [email protected]