Texas Hold ‘Em draws Classic supporters to downtown Fort Smith
by February 7, 2010 10:45 am 143 views
story and photos by Ruby Dean
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The third Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament held by the Fort Smith Classic brought 35 players to downtown Fort Smith on Saturday night (Feb. 6) to help raise money for the professional golf tournament held at Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith.
Proceeds from the tournament are also used to help charities such as The First Tee and WestAR RSVP. In 2009, the event netted $10,000 for charity partners and officials are hoping to do the same this year. The next Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament will be May 20 at Hardscrabble County Club and the winner of Saturday’s Texas Hold ‘Em will have a free sit in on this tournament.
The Fort Smith Classic, the only sanctioned PGA Tour event in Arkansas, will be the week of June 14-20.
Texas Hold ‘Em is a poker game dating back to the early 1900s and the Texas State Legislature recognized Robstown, Texas, as the game’s birthplace. When it was first introduced, it was just called hold ’em. Around 1959, the game became known as Texas Hold ‘Em. The difference between draw poker and hold ’em is that you bet four times instead of twice. Therefore this game becomes more of a strategy type game.
Eighty players registered with 35 showing up at the Riverfront Pavilion in downtown Fort Smith to play. Each table was set up for 8 players. As the bidding increased, players began to dwindle. By 9:30, they were down to one table with seven players.
Players enjoyed hot wings from Hooters, beverages, and dancing to music supplied by Marc Sparks and J.T. Sherrard as the playing continued down to the champion.
Prize packages included: Razorback basketball tickets plus 50 free wings from Hooter’s sponsored by Dr. Steve and Linda Nelson; a night at the presidential suite of the Aspen Hotel and a $45 Outback Steakhouse certificate sponsored by Aspen Hotel; smile whitening system gift certificate for $200 donated by Dr. Angela Wiggins; designer sunglasses valued at $375 donated by Dr. Steven Stiles; an entertainment center donated by Furniture Factory Outlet; a big screen TV from Walmart; a weekend trip to Harrah’s Tunica and an overnight Tunica trip package with dinner for two at the Range donated by Harrah’s; and Hooter’s donated two VIP unlimited wing parties.
The top five finalists were:
• 5th place — Allen Herring who won the basketball tickets
• 4th place — Mike McDonald chose the night at the Presidential Suite at the Aspen hotel with a $45 gift certificate to the Outback Steakhouse
• 3rd place — Tom Berta received an overnight trip to Harrah’s Tunica trip package with dinner for two at the Range
• 2nd place — Luke Gramlich won a weekend trip to Harrah’s Tunica with golf, $100 spa, Paula Dean buffet and steak dinner
• 1st place — Dr. Steve Nelson chose the LCD TV donated by Wal-Mart
The Fort Smith Classic is starting a new program to allow nonprofit groupss to sell tickets to the Golf Tournament. The groupss will receive 100% of the profit from sales of the tickets the organization sells. It is an easy fundraiser, according to Classic officials. The new program is sponsored by Farmer’s Coop. The group thats sells the most will receive a portion of the pool from the Feb. 6 Texas Hold ‘Em which was $4,000.
There will be a one-hour meeting Feb. 24 to release information on the new program to area nonprofit organizations. Any organization interested will need to call the Fort Smith Classic office at 782-3410 to get on the list.
