What is “The Gibby”?
This one-day co-ed high school golf tournament is comprised of 12 golf teams across the Chattanooga regional area. This event will raise funds for scholarship(s) in Mr. Gilbert’s name and will be awarded to deserving students.
Each team would field 8 players consisting of 5 boys and 3 girls. This team stroke play event will be a combined 4-person gross score using the top 3 boys scores and the top girls score for each school. Along with an 18 hole championship competition, the event will be preceded with a banquet the evening prior hosted by Gibby.
This banquet will also include the scholarship(s) presentation for deserving students as well as an open Q&A with Gibby.
Supporting Chattanooga Junior Golf for Years to Come
The proceeds from the tournament will fund scholarship(s) for selected competitors in the field. Rising Seniors are eligible to apply for the scholarship based on a predetermined selection process, the tournament committee will decide who receives the scholarships(s).
2025 Event
News Coverage – “The Gibby” Salutes Local Golf Legend With Event At Ooltewah Club
Gilbert Invitational “The Gibby” Scholarship Application
The Gibby Scholarship is designed to reward a goal oriented college bound senior high school golfer who is a member of their respective Chattanooga area (Hamilton/Bradley County) high school golf team or is a certified senior home-schooled individual golfer participating in The Gibby Scholarship tournament recommended by a participating high school golf coach. Each year, a total of 3 one-time $5,000 scholarships will be paid to the bursar of the college/university of the recipient(s) choice. The funds will be disbursed by the Tennessee Golf Foundation following their specific guidelines for distribution. The Scholarship Committee selection process will be based on the content of the Applicant(s) character taking into account the respective student(s) involvement in their many varied school/community activities (can include church, job experience and team member/competitor recommendation) along with their respective essay. All scholarship applications must be received by the Scholarship Committee at The Ooltewah Club no later than July 30th prior to the start of the tournament. Award winners will be announced no later than September 15th.
Application Requirements
All Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Must be a college bound, senior member of their respective High School Golf Team (does not need to be a starter) or is a certified senior home-schooled individual golfer participating in The Gibby Scholarship tournament recommended by a participating high school golf coach.
- Must have a GPA of 2.5 or above
- Must have a composite ACT of 19 or above or SAT of 990 or above
- Complete a two-page application form which will include biographical information, itemized listing of school and community activities, a listing of honors and awards both inside and outside school and a brief explanation of college/career plans
- Write a short essay (300-350 words) using the prompt “The Importance of Integrity in Life and Golf”
- Request an official transcript signed by the principal or guidance counselor or parent/primary teacher in the case of a home-schooled student. The GPA and ACT/SAT composite score must be included with the transcript
- Submit three letters of recommendation. One letter must be from a member of the school faculty home-schooled parent/primary teacher), one letter from a leader of a church or community organization and one letter from a team member or competitor
- Submit an original completed application form and supporting documents in the order requested on the application form, by the due date requested. Electronic submissions will not be accepted!
Gallery
Chairman Jim Sanko
Treasurer Dayne Grey
Ooltewah Club Owner Rick Stern
Tennessee Golf Foundation Lamar Mills, PGA
Ooltewah Club Head Professional Tom Durbin, PGA
Gibby Gilbert II
Gibby Gilbert III
Melissa Cain
Josh Cain
Jack Stoughton
Rex Weland
Tal Abernathy
Brayden Helle of Signal Mountain High School, 2025 Gibby Scholarship recipient:
“I graduated in December from Signal Mountain High School and took some online classes through Chattanooga State in the spring while working regularly and spending time focusing on my golf game. I will be attending Maryville College in the fall to play on their golf team. I am very excited about my next chapter and thankful to The Gibby for selecting me as a scholarship recipient.”
Madison Butler of Boyd Buchanan School, 2024 Gibby Scholarship recipient:
“I am a sophomore at Milligan University where I play golf. In the fall and this spring season, I have had a couple top 10 finishes. One of my collegiate golf goals is to finish all tournament team and win a collegiate tournament during my collegiate career. I am pursuing my degree in accounting where my future plans are to become an accountant. These past two years at Milligan have been the best two years of my life. I’m super thankful for the Gibby Scholarship fund and tournament for helping me get to where I am today.”
Tyler Tate of Ooltewah High School, 2024 Gibby Scholarship recipient:
“I am a sophomore at Mississippi State University in the Professional Golf Management program. I spent last summer in Virginia at The Olde Farm as an intern. I am also headed back home to Ooltewah in May to be an intern at The Honors Course for the rest of the year. I am still playing golf in all of our semester PGM tournaments and playing for fun 4-5 times a week. After I graduate I plan to elect full membership status to the PGA of America.”
Alexander James Robinson of Walker Valley High School, 2024 Gibby Scholarship recipient:
“I’m currently a freshman at Tennessee Tech University. For me, college life is very busy. I am majoring in Nuclear Engineering, maintaining 20+ hours per week at work, as well as a brother of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. If I can manage it, I would like to try and get a role as a student ambassador for the university. Due to everything I am a part of, I currently am not playing golf for the school. But I’m one of the rangers at Golden Eagle Golf Club, so I still practice and play whenever I find the time. I’ll play in individual tournaments this summer and various qualifiers as well.
Overall college has taught me a lot about time management and adult life in general. The experience is a huge difference from high school, mainly when it comes to responsibility and maturity. Even though it can be overwhelming at times, I have really enjoyed the experience so far. Over the summer, I plan on working as many hours as I can and applying for more scholarships in order to hopefully graduate debt-free. This will allow me to build wealth in order to support foundations like yours and hopefully start one of my own eventually. “
Sydney Baker of Boyd Buchanan School, Gibby Scholarship recipient 2025
“I will be attending Mississippi State University, and Majoring in Architecture!”