Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s inaugural FORE Ouachita golf tournament will be held Monday, Oct. 19, at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock.

Proceeds from the benefit golf tournament, which has attracted approximately 30 corporate sponsors, will be used to help fund OBU athletic scholarships.

With more than 35 teams scheduled to participate, the four-man scramble format will feature morning and afternoon tee times. There are still a few team slots available for interested participants, according to Chris Babb, the tournament’s staff coordinator.

“We hope to give Ouachita alums and friends an event that they can put on their calendars each year,” said Babb, a development officer and external director of alumni at Ouachita. “We also hope that those Ouachita friends and alums will use this opportunity to introduce other people to Ouachita.

“We’re thankful to co-chairs Marc and Jay Heflin who are long-time supporters of their alma mater and former student-athletes as well,” Babb added. “We believe this tournament can be a signature event for Ouachita in the coming years that will benefit the university in a variety of ways.”

Jay Heflin, a member of Ouachita’s Board of Trustees, noted, “Like many others, our time at Ouachita had a big impact on our lives. FORE Ouachita is a way that those of us impacted by Ouachita can give back to the university and introduce new people to our alma mater.” He and his brother Marc are co-founders of Bird and Bear Medical, a Little Rock-based company that provides medical services throughout Arkansas.

Ouachita Baptist University, which is a member of the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference, currently sponsors a total of 14 men’s and women’s athletic teams ranging from baseball, basketball, football and softball to golf, soccer, swimming & diving and tennis as well as cross country and volleyball.

“It is very significant that we have established this tournament to benefit Ouachita,” emphasized OBU Athletic Director David Sharp. “In this inaugural tournament, our student-athletes are going to be the beneficiaries. We are very appreciative and anticipate a great turnout. I would encourage all of our friends and alumni to join us at Pleasant Valley Country Club on Oct. 19.”

As Ouachita officials and sponsors prepare for the tourney, Babb said, “We really love the name FORE Ouachita because it plays on a golf term while highlighting our philanthropic aim. It’s simple and it clicks. Junior Abby Turner came up with the name one day and it stuck.”

The tournament, which is presented by VCC, Inc., general contractors, features a number of major sponsors including Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Bird and Bear Medical, Capital Business Machines and US Bancorp.

Additional sponsors include Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods, EdFinancial Services, Hoffman-Henry Insurance, Print Mania and Twin City Printing as well as Dr. and Mrs. Rex Horne, Acme Brick, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Baptist Foundation, Bank of the Ozarks, Coca-Cola, Hickingbotham Investments, James Burge Photography, Jenkins Enterprises, Landers Harley, Mutual of Omaha, Pediatric Plus Therapy Services, Sodexo, Southern Bancorp, Teague Motors and Tropical Smoothie.

To register for FORE Ouachita, participate as a sponsor or for more information, contact Chris Babb at (870) 245-4274 or [email protected].