SEVENTH ANNUAL BLOUNT-BOWDEN CHARITY CLASSIC HITS A HOLE IN ONE FOR EDUCATION CHARITY

Destin, FL. - April 17, 2007 – Florida State University football coach, Bobby Bowden, and renowned Birmingham, Ala., business leader, Houston Blount, held their seventh annual Blount-Bowden Charity Classic (www.BlountBowden.org) on Monday, April 16 at Kelly Plantation. The event, which included a shotgun-start golf tournament, cocktail reception, auction, dinner and awards ceremony, raised more than $200,000 for college scholarships, the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center.

This year’s scholarships, which fund four-years at Florida State University, were awarded to Robert Miralles, Kayla Brown, Courtney Marshall and David Shackelford from Ft. Walton Beach High School, Stephanie Tanney and Jennifer Miller from Freeport High School, Kaitlyn Sellers and Allyce Smith from Niceville High School and Justin Collins from Choctaw High School. Each student received endorsements from school guidance counselors and were interviewed by the tournament selection committee.

“Both Houston (Blount) and myself are honored to carry on the Charity Classic’s tradition of awarding some of the region’s most promising students college scholarships and providing local charities with much deserved assistance,” Coach Bowden said. “Additionally, all of the event’s sponsors deserve credit for their efforts in producing another successful tournament and for their devotion to the Emerald Coast community.”

Highlighting the Charity Classic was the celebrity-studded golf tournament held on the Fred Couples championship course at Kelly Plantation, which included 23, four-member teams. The participants included celebrities, business leaders and golf enthusiasts. Among those present in the 18-hole shoot-out were event founders Houston Blount and Bobby Bowden; former Washington Redskin and Notre Dame quarterback and ESPN football analyst Joe Theismann; Indianapolis Colt and former Florida State Seminole defensive tackle Corey Simon; former University of Florida quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel; former University of Alabama running back Siran Stacey; former Auburn University men’s basketball coach Cliff Ellis; former Florida State basketball coach Tom Carlson; former Florida State All-American linebacker Terry Warren and Gen. Walter Kross.

Corporate sponsors for this year’s Blount-Bowden Charity Classic included The Sterling Companies, Coastal Community Bank and Insurance Agency, Delta United Specialties, First American Title, Florida Rock Industries, Randy Wise Homes, Vanguard Bank, Vulcan Materials and Yates Construction.

More than $1 million has been raised and distributed amongst 46 college scholarships and numerous Emerald Coast charities since the inception of the Blount-Bowden Charity Classic in 2001. There are currently 23 students enrolled at Florida State University who receive the Blount-Bowden scholarship, including four graduating seniors.

For more information on the event, visit www.BlountBowden.org or call 850-269-8282.