Fountain City Classic Announces $33,000 in Scholarships for 29 Students, Invites Community to Close the Gap Golf Classic

Twenty-nine students have received a combined $33,000 through the Fountain City Classic Scholarship Award earlier this year. As the Classic celebrates these scholars, it is inviting golfers, alumni, businesses, and education advocates to help students address the unexpected costs that can arise on the path to a degree.

The inaugural Fountain City Classic Close the Gap Golf Classic will take place Friday, November 6, 2026, during the 36th Annual Fountain City Classic Week. The event will be held at Bull Creek Golf Course, 7333 Lynch Road, Midland, Georgia. Registration begins at 9 a.m., followed by a 10 a.m. shotgun start and lunch at noon.

“For 36 years, the Fountain City Classic has brought people together through the proud traditions of Albany State University and Fort Valley State University,” said Dean Calvin Smyre, chairman of the Fountain City Classic. “Our commitment to students gives that tradition its lasting purpose. Close the Gap invites our communities to stand with students as they continue their educational path and work toward graduation.”

Close the Gap is a Fountain City Classic initiative created to help students progressing through college meet unexpected educational costs and fees. It builds on the Classic’s scholarship commitment by focusing attention on the financial needs students may face after they enroll.

“We often celebrate the moment a student gets to college, and we should,” said Robbie Branscomb, executive director of the Fountain City Classic, who launched the Close the Gap initiative. “But we also need to be there when an unexpected expense makes staying in college harder. Close the Gap grew from a simple belief: students who have put in the work to get this far deserve a community willing to help them keep going.”

The Fountain City Classic Community Scholarship is open to high school seniors within a 100- mile radius of Columbus, Georgia, who plan to attend an accredited college or university in the continental United States in fall 2027. Applications open November 20, 2026, and close February 28, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Visit fountaincityclassic.com for complete eligibility requirements and application details.

The Golf Classic offers individuals and organizations several ways to participate. Golfers may register individually for $85 or play as part of a team. A $1,000 event sponsorship includes a team of four, event recognition, and a two-minute speaking opportunity. A $150 supporter sponsorship includes recognition at a designated golf hole.

“Whether you play on your own, bring a foursome, or support the event as a sponsor, there is a place for you in this effort,” said Howard Pendleton, co-chair of the Close the Gap Golf Classic. “We look forward to a great day of golf, but the reason we are gathering is clear: to help students keep moving toward the education they set out to complete.”

The Golf Classic is part of a broader Classic Week that brings the community together. With an estimated 50,000 fans expected at South Commons for Classic weekend, the celebration will offer families, alumni, and visitors opportunities for fellowship, pageantry, and support for students.

From the golf course to game day, the Classic’s commitment to education remains at the center of the celebration. To register for the Close the Gap Golf Classic, purchase game tickets, explore the full week of activities, or learn how to support the #CloseTheGap campaign, visit fountaincityclassic.com.

Major Sponsors of the Fountain City Classic: Georgia Power Company, Columbus Sports and Events Council/VisitColumbusGA, Pinnacle Financial Partners + Synovus, Aflac, Atlanta Falcons, Chick-fil-A Foundation, Delta Air Lines, Georgia Lottery Corp, The Home Depot, The Coca-Cola Company/Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Liberty Utilities, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Pacific Foundation and Georgia Access