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34th Annual Jim Holland Memorial Golf Tournament Raises $20,000 for Scholarships


Aug 19, 2024 -- maegan.martin
Winning Team, L-R: Natalie Blonien, Ethan Dawson, Gunner Hamon and Harter Holland, with: Jay Holland, Linda Holland Copeland and Dr. Chad Wiginton, WOSC President
Winning Team, L-R: Natalie Blonien, Ethan Dawson, Gunner Hamon and Harter Holland, with: Jay Holland, Linda Holland Copeland and Dr. Chad Wiginton, WOSC President

The 34th Annual WOSC Foundation, Inc. Jim Holland Memorial Golf Tournament was held Saturday, August 10, 2024, at the Western Heritage Golf Club in Altus.

The 2024 tournament will provide approximately $20,000.00 in additional funds to the Jim Holland Memorial Scholarship Endowment. This year’s proceeds will push the existing endowment to over $400,000. The interest earned from the endowment provides scholarship funding for students attending Western Oklahoma State College.

This year’s tournament ended with a tie between two outstanding teams, both achieving an impressive score of 53, an unbelievable 18 under par. After an exciting tiebreaker, the Carter Holland team emerged as the 2024 Champions. The winning team members were Carter Holland, Ethan Dawson, Natalie Blonien, and Gunner Hamon.

The tournament includes mini competitions in addition to the traditional 18-hoes of play. Nine prize hole winners won a dozen Titlest PROVI high quality golf balls each. At the 8th hole, players had a chance to win an additional sleeve of golf balls if they hit the green from the tee box.

Over the past 34 years of tournament play, the teams have evolved from just fathers and sons to now including fathers, sons, and grandsons. This tournament is about more than just golf—it's about fellowship, family, scholarships, and a 34-year heritage of playing on the same course year after year.

Jay Holland, the son of the late Jim Holland, was 24 when he played in the first tournament to honor the memory of his dad.  Jay and his son, Carter, play every year. Carter’s team was this year’s winning team! The win was extra special to Carter. Carter says he didn’t have the opportunity to know his grandfather, Jim, but playing in this tournament year after year has made him feel like he did.

The annual tournament has received financial support on a continued basis from local businesses, longtime friends, and former students of the late Jim Holland.  Linda Holland Copeland, who has never missed a tournament, is always moved by the continued support of the Jim Holland Memorial Scholarship Tournament. 

The WOSC Foundation, Inc. would like to thank all the numerous sponsors and the Western Heritage Golf Club for hosting the tournament. 

The Annual Golf Ball Drop was held at the conclusion of the tournament. Prior to the tournament, 100 golf ball tickets were sold for $100 each. Half of the proceeds go to the Jim Holland Scholarship Endowment and the remaining half goes to the winner of the golf ball drop.

This year, the winner of the $5,000 was Debbie Valerio, with ball #18! This year was only the second year Debbie was eligible to win the prize as she was formerly an employee of Western and the WOSC Foundation, Inc. Debbie played a key role in creating the golf ball drop and managed it from 2019 to 2022.A huge congratulations to Debbie and a big thank you for the many years of making it happen!

The Western Oklahoma State College Foundation, Inc. provides the opportunity to invest in the future by offering many ways to give. The WOSC Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 organization and exists to generate support for the students and programs of Western Oklahoma State College. For more information on the Jim Holland Scholarship Endowment or other ways to support, visit wosc.edu/give or call our office at (580) 477-7706.

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