Perfect Fall Weather Brings a

Nearly Full Slate of Golfers out

to “Golf for a Goal” for Nursing

Golf Tournament

by Pam Roe

October 3, 2007

For Immediate Release

COLUMBIA , Mo. - - A perfect fall day greeted a nearly full slate of teams competing in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing's 8th annual “ Fund the Drive for Nurses ” golf tournament on Monday, October 1, at the Columbia Country Club. The event benefits the Fund the Drive for Nurses Scholarship Fund. Prior to this years' event, the tournament and support for this effort had already managed to garner more than $96,000 to help offset nursing student's educational costs at MU.

“Students are at the top of my organizational chart,” said Dean Rose Porter. “They need all the financial support we can provide them so they aren't starting their career laden with steep educational debt. We are grateful for those who share our vision in offsetting these costs through this important effort.”

Student scholarship recipients were on hand to thank participants for their support. To date 53 students have benefited from the more than $23,000 in awards already made. The 2007 Driving Force major sponsors helped underwrite the tournament so a larger percentage of the participant's donations could go directly to the scholarship fund.

Driving Force sponsors included: Friends in Memory of Ed McDaniel; Larry and Annette Lueckenotte; Roxanne McDaniel; Denice and Richard Mendenhall; and Jack and Donna Smith. The tourney's hole-in-one sponsor was Joe Machen's BMW. Lunch was graciously sponsored by Gary and Ginny Evans, and the award reception was hosted by Elite Nurse Staffing. Beverages were provided by Nauser Beverage , N.H. Scheppers Distributing and Hy-Vee. A live auction immediately following the event netted more than $5,000 thanks to the skills of auctioneer, Travis Ballenger. Overall the event will likely contribute more than $20,000 to the scholarship fund again thanks to community support.

The Wendy Evans' sponsored team of Marilyn Gaeth, Heiddi Davis, Kimi Rother and Rebecca Highland , shot a 64 to clench the championship first place in the women's flight. Second place in the women's flight went to the Jane Gold and Bob Long sponsored team of Jeanie Wright, Odette Evans, Sara Hulse and Linda Dreier with a 71 in a scorecard playoff.

The third place women's trophies went to the O'Fallon, Mo. , ladies team of Liz Crawford, Nancy Sebastian, Donna Easton and Danna Phillips, also with a 71.

In the Men's/Mixed Team Flight, the championship went to hole-in one sponsor Joe Machen's Team, with a score of 54, that consisted of Kevin Osborne, Danny Myers, Dave Teel and Dave McDonald. Second place trophies went to the Interim President Gordon Lamb's sponsored team with a score of 58 in a scorecard playoff comprised of Roger Wilson, Jim Moody, Steve Knorr and Kevin Sprouse. And the day's third place team in this flight was comprised of John Thompson, Terry Thornsberry, Russ Stott, and Jon Sunvold who were sponsored by Dean Crist and the School of Medicine , who also shot a 58.

Specialty contest winners included: Men's Longest Drive – Jack Cruise; Women's Longest Drive – Linda Dreier; Men's Closest to the Pin – Marty Siddall, and Women's Closest to the Pin – Mary Beck.

Master of Ceremonies duties were handled by KOMU's own anchor Jim Riek.

The School of Nursing gratefully wishes to acknowledge its hole and beverage sponsors as well as those who bid or contributed to the live auction.

-30-

* Color photos are available electronically of winning teams as well as candid shots from the day's event.