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Sanderson Farms Championship tees off at Country Club of Jackson

PGA tournament means big bucks for Mississippi

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Sanderson Farms Championship tees off at Country Club of Jackson
PGA tournament means big bucks for Mississippi
The first round of Mississippi's only PGA tournament teed off Thursday at the Country Club of Jackson.The Sanderson Farms Championship moved this year from Madison to the Capitol City, and many people wondered if that would produce a greater economic impact or less of one. There are already signs the answer is more, 16 WAPT's Scott Simmons reported.Watch the reportKaren McKie, of Green Oaks, has seen an increase in the work her florist and landscaping business has gotten since the tournament moved to Jackson."We were just doing the inside flowers and plants and now we are doing the exterior as well," McKie said.She's got 10 workers at the Country Club working the duration of the tournament. Bus companies are also getting extra business shuttling golf fans and workers.Event organizers believe this year's economic impact of about $25 million for the tournament will be increased next year."We felt like with a new venue (and) a change of date that 2014 was a year we were going to prove ourselves to a lot of folks and then 2015 is the year we are really going to take off from a sponsorship standpoint," said tournament director Steve Jent. "We see 2015 being a bigger year than 2014."The Mississippi Development Authority said a PGA tournament closer to the Capitol City is a big benefit. During the event, the state agency is courting about a half-dozen businesses that may move to Mississippi."We have got folks from all over the United States giving them the chance to see Mississippi and show all we have to show, as well as the great venue here at the Jackson Country Club," said MDA executive director Brent Christensen. 

The first round of Mississippi's only PGA tournament teed off Thursday at the Country Club of Jackson.

The Sanderson Farms Championship moved this year from Madison to the Capitol City, and many people wondered if that would produce a greater economic impact or less of one. There are already signs the answer is more, 16 WAPT's Scott Simmons reported.

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Watch the report

Karen McKie, of Green Oaks, has seen an increase in the work her florist and landscaping business has gotten since the tournament moved to Jackson.

"We were just doing the inside flowers and plants and now we are doing the exterior as well," McKie said.

She's got 10 workers at the Country Club working the duration of the tournament. Bus companies are also getting extra business shuttling golf fans and workers.


Event organizers believe this year's economic impact of about $25 million for the tournament will be increased next year.

"We felt like with a new venue (and) a change of date that 2014 was a year we were going to prove ourselves to a lot of folks and then 2015 is the year we are really going to take off from a sponsorship standpoint," said tournament director Steve Jent. "We see 2015 being a bigger year than 2014."

The Mississippi Development Authority said a PGA tournament closer to the Capitol City is a big benefit. During the event, the state agency is courting about a half-dozen businesses that may move to Mississippi.

"We have got folks from all over the United States giving them the chance to see Mississippi and show all we have to show, as well as the great venue here at the Jackson Country Club," said MDA executive director Brent Christensen.