The Golden Eagle Pickleball Club and Southern Miss Wesley will host a pickleball tournament at The University of Southern Mississippi to raise funds for disaster relief following recent tornado outbreaks across the state.
The event, called “Dinkin’ for Gold,” will be held on April 25 and marks the club’s first major tournament. It is open to the public and aims to assist communities affected by the recent severe weather events in Mississippi. All proceeds from the tournament will go toward disaster relief efforts.
“This is our first Pickleball tournament for GEPC and Wesley, so we really wanted to get our names out in the community and create a charity Pickleball tournament,” said Ashlyn Le, vice president of the Golden Eagle Pickleball Club. “A lot of others are a little fancy and competitive, but this one is more friendly and meant to be fun for everyone.”
The tournament will feature round-robin style matches with men’s, women’s and mixed divisions. Participants can choose their own partners and compete at their preferred level of play. Registration is open to all skill levels.
Southern Miss students will receive a discounted registration fee of $5, while the standard fee is $15.
Sponsors including WarpingPoint and Uniqlo are supporting the event by helping coordinate logistics and providing prizes for participants.
“I am pretty excited, I am really looking forward to going against other players while also helping the cause,” said Chad Pham, a club member who has been playing pickleball for a year and a half. “It feels like everyone wins in this in the end.”
Spectators are welcome at the event, which organizers say is designed to foster community, fun and support for those impacted by natural disasters.
