event replay:

An Evening with Verne Lundquist, 2023

2023 Lundquist Fundraiser and Par-Tee Is Another Big Score for the Foundation!

On Friday, March 3rd, the Headliners Foundation hosted its annual An Evening with Verne Lundquist event at the Headliners Club. Special guest golfer-turned-broadcaster Gary McCord joined the fun with colorful stories and a putting contest with one of our guests! Golf enthusiasts, Foundation supporters, friends and sports fans came together for a golf-themed event to raise funds for the Verne Lundquist Sports Media Institute, which provides programming, scholarships, and grants to support student journalists interested in pursuing a career in sports media.

Everyone’s favorite Master of Ceremonies, KLBJ-AM Radio Personality Ed Clements, kicked off the festivities and kept things going throughout the evening. Foundation Board Chair Patti Ohlendorf welcomed everyone to the event, and Lundquist Institute Chair Mark Morrison provided a peek inside the Institute and some if its new programming. In partnership with the UT Center for Sports Communication & Media, last year the Institute sponsored the first ever sports journalism boot camp for high school students. Guests were treated to a video highlighting the camp, which included testimonials from student attendees.

The 2022-23 Verne Lundquist scholarship recipient was introduced and showed off his broadcasting skills with a video compilation of some of his outstanding work. Tim Schmitt, managing editor of Golfweek and golf coordinator for the USA Today Network, gave an insider’s perspective on the sport, with some predictions for the future and upcoming tournaments.

The highlight of the evening was Verne Lundquist and his special guest Gary McCord telling stories about their days as colleagues at CBS Sports, and giving their thoughts on the state of the industry and how the sport of golf is changing. The evening concluded with a live auction, which included a putting contest between Mr. McCord and the winning bidder, Headliners Club member Powell Thompson. What a night!

Special thanks to Ed Clements, Tim Schmitt, Verne and Nancy Lundquist, Gary McCord, our generous underwriters, and the entire Lundquist Event Committee for an unforgettable evening!