Support Your Industry at the National Championship Golf Tournament

My wife Nanette and I were on the road in May and missed the horrible weather that came through Oklahoma on back-to-back days. First, an F-4 tornado went through Shawnee and its surrounding area, causing massive damage. And then the very next day, Moore was the recipient of an F-5 tornado where 24 were killed and hundreds more were injured. The outpouring of love and caring, both from within our industry and elsewhere, has been unbelievable. I am so proud of our state for the way we always pull together when things are tough, and this situation is no different.

In difficult times like these, it’s important for independent agents to support each other and our communities—including our association community. Show your support by attending industry events like the Trusted Choice® Big “I” National Championship Golf Tournament, which will be held Aug. 5–8 at the prestigious Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst, N.C. This is the 45th annual tournament, and it will be held for the second time in the past six years at this great venue.

The Big “I”-sponsored event is the third oldest junior golf event in the United States. Our standing tradition is that any eligible junior, either male or female, must play their way to our national championship through local and state qualifiers. I personally became involved in this event in 1997 when our Oklahoma group attended the tournament in Pueblo, Colo. We were hosting the 1998 competition in Edmond, Okla., at the Oak Tree Country Club, and wanted some insight into how to run it right.

I have not missed a Big “I” tournament since 1997. We have been fortunate to host this great championship in our hometown of Ardmore, Okla., in 2004 and 2009. Interestingly, the 2009 champions, Denny McCarthy, from Maryland, and Caroline Powers, from Ohio, have enjoyed outstanding college careers at the University of Virginia and Michigan State University, respectively.

In addition, the Big “I” boasts many contestants who have or are currently playing in the LPGA, PGA, Web.com, Canadian, European and Senior tours. Some of our past champions include:

• Christie Kerr (1994 and 1995)

• Grace Park (1996)

• Beth Bauer (1997)

• Kandie Kung (1998 and 1999)

• Sunny Oh (2001)

• Cheyenne Woods (2005)

• Ginger Howard (2008)

• Caroline Powers (2009)

• Ally McDonald (2011)

• Bobby Clampett (1975)

• Bob Tway (1976)

• Billy Andrade (1980 and 1981)

• Chris Smith (1986)

• Justin Leonard (1989)

• Tiger Woods (1990 and 1992)

• Boyd Summerhays (1995)

• David Gossett (1996 and 1997)

• Ryan Hybl (1998)

• Kevin Silva (2002)

• Cameron Edens (2005 and 2006)

• Logan McCracken (2008)

• Denny McCarthy (2009)

• J. T. Poston (2011)

• Austin Smotherman (2012)

Nanette, our son Jake and I have enjoyed being involved with this outstanding event over the years for two main reasons. I truly believe that junior golf is a wonderful sport for young people to take part in and get their parents involved with as well. Parents and children develop friendships in the sport, and a young person can morph from “pretty good” to “very good”—or maybe even be able to qualify for our Trusted Choice Big “I” National Championship!

In addition, Trusted Choice, as our national sponsor, affords us the ability to promote our brand wherever we go. It is very cool to attend a local event of even our national championship and see our Trusted Choice brand everywhere! At the tournament, Big “I” members tell the young players and parents about what we are as Trusted Choice independent insurance agents! We love to see all the signage telling these people who we are too.

As the Big “I” continues to break down silos and integrate Young Agents, the Diversity program, InVEST®, Trusted Choice and now CAP—what better way to showcase who we are to this group of up-and-coming stars in whatever field they choose. I contend there is no better venue to show off who we are and represent our brand than the six days of our 45th annual Trusted Choice Big “I” National Championship, in Pinehurst, this August!

—Bobby Bramlett, Big “I” chairman