First Place Winners: Ward3PI Consultants
Alumni and supporters of Savannah State University gathered together on October 23, 2025 to participate in the Coach Bill Davis Memorial Golf Outing, hosted by University Advancement, held at the Savannah Country Club on Wilmington Island.
The annual golf tournament began in 1971 as an opportunity for individuals to get together to support what was then known as Savannah State College. Over the years, the event grew, and the support for Savannah State increased, specifically aimed at scholarship assistance for current students and in 1984, the Savannah State Foundation accepted the charge of hosting the Homecoming Golf Outing.
In 1996, the Foundation wanted to recognize the contributions made by William R. “Bill” Davis, as head football coach at Savannah State College from 1986 to 1992 and then at Savannah State University from 2000 until his passing in 2002. In doing so, the outing became known as the Bill Davis Memorial Golf Tournament.
But sometime after Davis’s passing his name was removed from the golf tournament and it was simply called the Savannah State University Homecoming Golf Tournament.
William Davis, Jr.
William Davis, Jr. was able to attend the tournament this year which drew 26 teams and more than 104 golfers. Davis was happy that the tournament decided to add his father’s name back.
“I was elated when Adrian Scott called me back in May saying they would restore his name. It did my heart good to see him still a part of Savannah State, if only in name only.”
Davis, who said that he asked university officials in the past about why his father’s name was removed from the tournament but he never got any answers, added that having his father’s name restored has fired him up about continuing his support of his alma mater.
“This has energized me. I will encourage my friends to play next year,” stated the 1993 SSU alumnus.
He also said that he liked what he saw at the tournament saying that “ I was impressed with Mr. Scott and the University Advancement team. They were very good and I urge them to continue to grow this event.”
After finishing third last year, Ward3PI Consultants won first place this year. Members of the winning foursome were Timothy Ward, Gregory Hillman, Baxter barber and Lester Pearson.
The team from Mock Plumbing came in second place and ILA 2046 was third.
Joe Bonaparte won the Closest to the Pin award while Eugene Artis won the Longest Drive.
In-kind contributions of the tournament were Carver State Bank, Chick-fil-A, Container Maintenance Corporation, Byrd’s Famous Cookies and Georgia Ports Authority.
Sponsors and donors include South Atlantic & Coast District, ILA, Ward3PI Consultants, International Longshoreman’s Association 1414, International Longshoreman’s Association 2046, Ameris Bank, United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd., Alarm, Fire and Security, Coco-Cola Bottling Company, LS3P, Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, Chatham Engineering, Hussey Gay Bell, Georgia Power, Georgia Hospice Care, Savannah State University National Alumni Association, Washington Family Endowment, Savannah State University Foundation, Mock Plumbing, SEDA, Thunderbolt Consultants, LLC, Memorial Health, Samet Corporation, Visit Savannah, Clyde’s Big Daddy’s Sauce, LLC, Christian Golf Association, Pathfinder Wealth Group, M&O Landscaping, Seay, Felton, LLC, Mr. Willie Seymore, Ms. Christy Lee, Ms. LaTanga Allen-Felder, Dr. Judy Days-Dee, Mr. Charles G. Young, Dr. Marcus Cox, Mr. Dave Simons, Mr. Terrie B. Johnson, and Mr. Yusef Polite.
