No. 1 Ernie Els and No. 10 Jerry Kelly Commit to Compete in Inaugural Simmons Bank Championship Presented by Stephens

Rhea-AI Summary

The inaugural Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens, a PGA TOUR Champions playoff event, has secured commitments from top players Ernie Els (No. 1) and Jerry Kelly (No. 10) in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. The tournament will be held October 21-27, 2024, at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, Arkansas, marking the first-ever PGA TOUR event in the state.

The championship will feature a 54-player field competing for a $2.3 million purse. It serves as the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions annual Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs. Tickets are now on sale, with corporate sponsorships and Pro-Am positions also available. Net proceeds will support multiple nonprofit organizations in Arkansas.

Positive

• Secured participation of top-ranked players Ernie Els and Jerry Kelly, potentially attracting more viewers and sponsors
• $2.3 million purse offered, indicating significant financial investment in the event
• First-ever PGA TOUR event in Arkansas, potentially boosting local economy and tourism
• Net proceeds to support multiple nonprofit organizations in Arkansas, enhancing Simmons Bank's (SFNC) corporate social responsibility profile

Negative

• None.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Two of the top players in the current Charles Schwab Cup standings, No. 1 Ernie Els and No. 10 Jerry Kelly, have declared their intention to compete in the inaugural Simmons Bank Championship, October 21-17, tournament officials announced today.

Els, 54, is a World Golf Hall of Fame member, who has won six times on the PGA TOUR Champions, with three of those victories coming this year. One of those wins, the Kaulig Companies Championship in Akron, OH, is a major on the circuit, which he won in July.

The South African's PGA TOUR career included 19 wins from 1994 through 2012 and seven Presidents Cup appearances. Els was a three-time major championship winner during that span, including the 1994 U.S. Open, the 2002 Open Championship and the 2012 Open Championship, his last win on the PGA TOUR.

Kelly, 57, has accumulated eleven titles on the PGA TOUR Champions, including the Kaulig Companies Championship as his one major title. He has six top ten finishes so far this year.

The Madison, WI native and resident, won three times on the PGA TOUR from 1991 through 2016 and played on one Presidents Cup team for the U.S.

The inaugural Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens will be held at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, Arkansas with activities throughout the week of Oct. 21-27. Tournament play will take place Friday, Oct. 25 through Sunday, Oct. 27. The tournament will serve as the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions annual Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs. The field will consist of the top 54 players in the standings competing for $2.3 million in prize money and a chance to earn their spot among the top 36 in the final event of the season.

Tickets for the Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens—a PGA TOUR Champions playoff event—are now on sale and more options have recently been added for the general public. For a complete listing of ticket options or to purchase tickets, please visit the tournament website at simmonsbankchampionship.com

Corporate sponsorships and hospitality packages as well as playing positions and teams in our official Pro-Am golf experience are also available for purchase. For more information, visit the website or contact sales@simmonsbankchampionship.com.

The Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens will be the first-ever PGA TOUR event held in Arkansas, and the first PGA TOUR-sanctioned tournament held in the state since the Korn Ferry Tour's Fort Smith Classic, which was last contested in 2010. Net proceeds from the Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens will used by the tournament's charitable arm to support multiple nonprofit organizations in the state of Arkansas.

For more information about the Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens, to purchase tickets and to stay up to date on tournament news, visit the tournament website, simmonsbankchampionship.com.

Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens
The Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens, a PGA TOUR Champions Charles Schwab Cup Playoff event contested in Little Rock, Arkansas, will be played at Pleasant Valley Country Club the week of October 21-27, featuring a 54-player field and a $2.3 million purse. In its inaugural year, the tournament will focus on charitable giving and making a lasting impression on the State of Arkansas. For more information about the tournament, visit the tournament website (simmonsbankchampionship.com) or follow the Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens on Facebook (@SimmonsBankChampionship), Instagram (@sbgolfchamp), X [formerly Twitter] (@sbgolfchamp), TikTok (@sbgolfchamp), LinkedIn (@SimmonsBankChampionship) and YouTube (@SimmonsBankChampionship).

Simmons Bank
Simmons Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Simmons First National Corporation (NASDAQ: SFNC), a Mid-South based financial holding company that has paid cash dividends for 115 consecutive years. Simmons Bank operates 234 branches in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Founded in 1903, Simmons Bank offers comprehensive financial solutions delivered with a client-centric approach. In 2024, Simmons Bank was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the 2024-2025 Best Companies to Work For in the South and by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Banks 2024 in Tennessee and America's Best-In-State Employers 2024 in Missouri.

Stephens
"Stephens" (the company brand name) is a leading family-owned investment firm that includes Stephens Inc. (member NYSE/SIPC), Stephens Investment Management Group, LLC, Stephens Insurance, LLC, Stephens Capital Partners LLC and Stephens Europe Limited.

Stephens Inc. is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Founded in 1933, Stephens Inc. provides securities brokerage, investment banking and other financial services to a broad client base which includes corporations, state and local governments, financial institutions, institutional investors and individual investors throughout the United States and overseas. Stephens Inc. (Home Office: 111 Center Street, Little Rock, AR USA, 501-377-2000) is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Member SIPC/NYSE. For more information, visit www.stephens.com.

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SOURCE Simmons Bank

FAQ

When and where will the inaugural Simmons Bank Championship take place?

The inaugural Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens will be held from October 21-27, 2024, at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Who are the top players committed to the 2024 Simmons Bank Championship?

Ernie Els, ranked No. 1, and Jerry Kelly, ranked No. 10 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, have committed to compete in the inaugural Simmons Bank Championship.

What is the prize purse for the 2024 Simmons Bank Championship?

The inaugural Simmons Bank Championship offers a prize purse of $2.3 million.

How many players will compete in the 2024 Simmons Bank Championship?

The field will consist of the top 54 players in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.

How will the proceeds from the Simmons Bank Championship be used?

Net proceeds from the Simmons Bank Championship will be used to support multiple nonprofit organizations in the state of Arkansas.