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| PAST CUP CHAMPIONS 2007- Mark "Fatback" Merritt 2008- Harold Batts 2009- Gene Plummer, Lex Futrell & Jody Dawkins 2010- |
The Collard Cup Challenge was started in 2007 in memory of Tom Watson Merritt,
who, despite his name, hated golf as much he loved his collards. When one of his
sons, Mitch, took up golf and used the yard for chipping practice, Tom was often
overheard exclaiming "Don't hit those *&^%(*&^$ golf balls into my collards!"
Being the loving offspring they were and wanting to honor their father and his
well-developed sense of humor, the Merritt children founded The Tom Merritt
Memorial Invitational (aka The Collard Cup Challenge). Conceived on the back porch
of the Merritt homestead, the tournament was originally just a handful of
immediate family members, but rapidly grew the next year to include golfers that
were enthusiastic about Tom, collards and the worthwhile cause The Cup benefited.
The Collard Cup itself was hand-crafted from a "borrowed" pressure cooker (used in
the preparation of collards) from Miss Yvonne, Tom's wife. Miss Yvonne enjoys the
distinction of being the Collard Queen of the tournament, makes the honorary first
tee-shot to signal the beginning of competition, and cooks the collards that are
enjoyed at the post-tournament buffet.
who, despite his name, hated golf as much he loved his collards. When one of his
sons, Mitch, took up golf and used the yard for chipping practice, Tom was often
overheard exclaiming "Don't hit those *&^%(*&^$ golf balls into my collards!"
Being the loving offspring they were and wanting to honor their father and his
well-developed sense of humor, the Merritt children founded The Tom Merritt
Memorial Invitational (aka The Collard Cup Challenge). Conceived on the back porch
of the Merritt homestead, the tournament was originally just a handful of
immediate family members, but rapidly grew the next year to include golfers that
were enthusiastic about Tom, collards and the worthwhile cause The Cup benefited.
The Collard Cup itself was hand-crafted from a "borrowed" pressure cooker (used in
the preparation of collards) from Miss Yvonne, Tom's wife. Miss Yvonne enjoys the
distinction of being the Collard Queen of the tournament, makes the honorary first
tee-shot to signal the beginning of competition, and cooks the collards that are
enjoyed at the post-tournament buffet.
| COLLARD CUP CHALLENGE 2010 |
