JONESBORO — The Arkansas State University College of Agriculture has announced details for its fifth annual New Ground Classic Golf Tournament, scheduled Friday, May 2 at Sage Meadows Golf Club in Jonesboro. 

The tournament, a four-person scramble, is a major fundraiser for College of Agriculture students and is organized by Arkansas Farm Bureau, a key sponsor of the event.

“Five years ago, when we started this tournament, the school had a very limited budget for helping students participate in agriculture-related extracurricular activities,” said Chuck Tucker, director of organization and member programs with Arkansas Farm Bureau. “With so many opportunities around — like FFA and Collegiate Farm Bureau — we didn’t want students to miss out because of financial concerns.”

Money raised from the tournament goes directly into the Dean’s Discretionary Fund, where it supports student organizations, student travel for educational and professional trips, student ambassadors and enhancement of teaching facilities and curriculum.

“We’re big believers in the importance of outside-the-classroom educational opportunities, in addition to classroom studies,” said Dr. Greg Phillips, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of agricultural research at ASU. “We have stable sources of income that fund our classroom operations, but we rely on donations to support student activities that take place outside of class. This tournament is a major fundraiser for these efforts.”

The college seeks corporate sponsors for each of the 18 holes on the course. Additionally, there are three different levels of sponsorship: Gold Level ($500), which guarantees recognition on course signs and printed materials; and Silver ($250) and Bronze ($100) Levels, which guarantee recognition on course signs or printed materials. 

Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams in each flight and for longest-drive and closest-to-the-hole achievements. In addition, there is a $10,000 cash prize for a hole in one on any of the par-3 holes.

The tourney is limited to 36 four-person teams. Registration is $75 an individual or $300 a team. The registration deadline for sponsors and golfers is April 23, and early registration is encouraged. Registration forms are available at http://agri.astate.edu.