The 2023 Farmer Jim Neal Golf Classic was held on Friday, April 14 under sunny skies at beautiful Whisper Lake Country Club in Madison. Twenty-eight teams teed off to support the fundraising efforts of Friends of Mississippi State Hospital, Inc. The FJN Golf Classic is the largest annual fundraiser for Friends of MSH, whose primary function is to promote awareness of mental health issues and raise funds for projects that enhance the quality of life for individuals served at the hospital throughout the year.
The C Spire team of Jack Dean, Chris Hemphill, Adam Panetta, and Philip Thornton won the day by taking first place in this year’s tournament. Second place went to the Whisper Lake CC Team of Woody Strode, Rick Cleveland, Mike Justice, and Roy Boisture. The BankPlus team of Joel Ross, Pat Renegar, Dave Clements, and Will White claimed third place.
Friends is so thankful for all of our sponsors that made the tournament a success. Sponsors include: Title Sponsor – BankPlus; Platinum Sponsor – Cura an elior company; Eagle Sponsor – Mid South Rehab Services; Golf Cart Sponsor – Brandi’s Hope Community Services; Par Sponsors – The Arc of Mississippi, Bank of Yazoo, Codoray Construction, LLC., East Mississippi State Hospital, Hinds Behavioral Health Services, and Mississippi Hospital Association; Beverage Tent Sponsors – Chem-Aqua/NCH Inc. and Lane-Tedder & Associates, Inc.; Tee-Sign Sponsor – Nucor Steel Jackson, Inc.; Gift Donors – Amerigo, Bank of Yazoo, Bass Pro Shops, Boudreaux’s, Candence Bank, Char, Chic-fil-A, C Spire, Donna Brown, Kathy Denton, Frisco Deli, Heartwood, Home Depot, Sissy and Tony Gomillion, Kim Edwards, Jackson Newell Paper Company, Angela Lott, Lost Pizza, Mangia Bene Restaurant, Newk’s, Rankin First, Revell Hardware, Sheila Shows, Van’s Sporting Goods, Valerie Thornton, Table 100, Van’s Sporting Goods, Walmart, Walker’s Drive Inn, and Zaxby’s. A special thanks to BankPlus, Ben Nelson Golf Carts, Cowboy Maloney, Cura Foods, and Whisper Lake Country Club.
Committee members include Jeremy Allen and Jonathan Robinson with CURA; Bill Bobbs, Tony Gomillion, Bobby Stephens, and Ray Wallace from the Friends of MSH Board; Tommy Bradley and Anna Lauren Hatchett from the Neal Family; Kyle Sisk, Whisper Lake Pro; and Joel Ross, BankPlus, and Bo Chastain, MSH Director, serving as co-chairs. Kathy Denton and Sheila Shows, Public Relations, serve as tournament coordinators for the hospital. The day would not be possible without the work of some amazing volunteers, including representatives from Mid South Rehab Services and Bank of Yazoo.
The tournament also heavily depends on MSH staff to assist with getting all needed supplies (tables/chairs/grills/coolers/tents, etc…) to the event, set up and then taken down and returned to MSH. Members of this group have also traditionally been part of the cooking team. Representatives from the Maintenance Department included Craig Martin, Jason Thornton, Riley Savell, Chuck Shows, and Ryan VanGordan. MSH Police Officer Derrick Berry was also part of the support team. Thank you to all of them for their work to make this event successful!
An extra special thank you to the family of Farmer Jim Neal who continue to allow Friends to use his namesake for this tournament. Thank you to Anna Lauren Hatchett and Tommy Bradley for serving as Honorary Chairmen and attending to represent the Neal family to be a part of this day of good food, good friends, and a great day of golf!
MSH, a program of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, was founded in 1855 and helps the individuals it serves achieve mental wellness by encouraging hope, promoting safety, and supporting recovery. The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission.
First Place in the 2023 Farmer Jim Neal Golf Classic – C Spire Team – Jack Dean, Chris Hemphill, Adam Panetta, Philip Thornton
Second Place in the 2023 Farmer Jim Neal Golf Classic – Whisper Lake Team – Woody Strode, Rick Cleveland, Mike Justice, Roy Boisture
Third Place in the 2023 Farmer Jim Neal Golf Classic – BankPlus Team – Joel Ross, Pat Renegar, Dave Clements, Will White
Neal Family – Anna Lauren and Jeff Hatchett – The Farmer Jim Neal Golf Classic is named in honor of the late “Farmer Jim” Neal, a Jackson radio personality and state legislator whose involvement with Mississippi State Hospital traces to the 1950s. On the airwaves for decades, he was a strong advocate of community service, volunteer work and charity. That spirit of service carries on in this golf tournament. His family continues to support and be a part of the tournament each year.