Simmons Bank Championship expected to be economic boost for Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- The Simmons Bank Championship is the second stop on the Charles Schwab PGA Tour Champion’s playoffs, which will be held for the first time in Little Rock at the Pleasant Valley Country Club.

The tournament is expected to attract thousands of people who officials say will also eat, sleep and shop in central Arkansas.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a news release that the event will be an economic boost for the Natural State.

“The best job I have as Governor is to be the chief salesperson for Arkansas. This Tour is just one more thing to give our state an advantage,” Sanders said. “We want to grow our outdoor economy and events like this that have a $15 million impact are exactly the type of thing that we’re looking to bring and highlight here.”

Officials said the Simmons Bank Championship’s net proceeds will benefit several qualified non-profit organizations in Arkansas, including First Tee Central Arkansas.

“One of our pillar organizations is going to be the first tee central Arkansas and that’s a big thing that Simmons Bank is excited to support,” associate tournament director Caley Veacham said.

According to Veacham, the connection with Simmons Bank and First Tee is the perfect match as banking is all about integrity and First Tee Central Arkansas teaches that value.

“Learning to teach kids about life skills and a lot of other things that they learn at the First Tee has a lot of great ties to Simmons Bank and their mission,” Veacham said.

Veacham said more organizations and non-profits will be announced as it gets closer to tournament time.

Officials say the goal is to grow the amount given back to the community each year of the five-year contract for Little Rock.

“Year one, we are getting our feet under us, and we are hoping to make a pretty large donation to a bunch of different groups at the end of this, and then we will just continue to compound on that for the years to come,” Veacham said.

The tournament will be held from Oct. 21 to 27. More information on tickets and the event can be found at SimmonsBankChampionship.com .

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