FROM KORN FERRY ... TO BYE-BYE BRIAN ... TO REAVES HAS SOME PUNCH LEFT, AFTER ALL

 

I give up. What the heck is Korn Ferry, which is the title 

sponsor for the professional golf tournament that will 

replace the Dominion Energy Classic here starting next 

fall?

The Korn Ferry Tour, scheduled for the Federal Club over 

the next four years, is (in baseball terminology) triple-A 

competition that qualifies 20 players annually for the 

PGA (major league) Tour. The first … Korn Ferry Tour 

Championship Presented by Virginia’s Richmond Region 

… will be held Oct. 5-11 at the Glen Allen course 

designed by late, great Arnold Palmer … and will be the 

final stop in 2026.

The Dominion Classic, a mainstay on the PGA’s 

Champions circuit, lasted 10 years and was such a 

success, not to mention a favorite of the contestants, it 

could have gone another 10 years, if not more, at Country 

Club of Virginia’s James River course.

However, CCV’s large golf-playing membership didn’t 

appreciate having to turn it over to the tour for three 

weeks, especially at this time of year, and the contract 

was not renewed after Dominion announced this would 

be its last year. Ten and done.

There was some hope the PGA could find another suitable 

course in addition to coming up with new sponsorship(s) 

to keep the classic here. Meanwhile, Henrico County 

bought The Crossings ($3 million), with plans to spend 

about $11 million to make it PGA worthy.

The cost has grown to $13M and, to date, nothing has 

been done. Pro, Inc., owner of Independence Golf Course, 

remains committed, we’re told.

Oops, almost forgot … Korn Ferry is …

“… a global organizational consulting firm that 

synchronizes strategy, operations and talent to help 

companies improve performance and growth,” according 

to Google. Wonderful.

… and Korn and Ferry stand for founding partners

 LESTER KORN and RICHARD FERRY, who started 

the business in 1969.

SO, ANOTHER high-profile, over-paid college football 

coach, LSU’s BRIAN KELLY, is fired. His contract calls 

for a separation fee of $54 million, second-most ever, yet 

there are signs he might have to settle for less. Otherwise, 

why would AD SCOTT WOODWARD say details are 

still being negotiated?

(Louisiana governor JEFF LANDRY reportedly had an 

active role in dismissing Kelly. Wow! Next thing you 

know GLEN YOUNGKIN will have a hand in naming 

VaTech’s next football coach. Don’t count on it. To date 

his primary interest in Virginia sports has been at 

Colonial Downs where he lent his name and office to 

promoting the Virginia Derby had become a qualifier for 

the Kentucky Derby … and that was more a product of 

his wife’s love of horse racing.

According to reports, Woodward and Kelly had what 

could be described as a “very contentious” meeting 

Sunday. Apparently, Kelly was told to fire his offensive 

coordinator, JOE SLOAN. When he refused, 

recommending other staff changes instead, his future in 

Baton Rouge went from being “on hold” to none at all. 

And, Sloan also was fired.

By the way, did you know Woodward was responsible for 

the two biggest payouts, all time, to ill-chosen football 

coaches? Kelly’s was No. 2. 

Numero uno is JIMBO FISHER, who came from 

Florida State … and got a parting gift of $76 MILLION 

from Texas A&M, thanks to Woodward when he was AD 

there.

Ironically, it was A&M, with a 49-25 rout at LSU 

Saturday night, that proved The End for Kelly who was in 

his fourth season with an overall record of 34-14.

RYAN REAVES, 38, now with San Jose Sharks (his fifth 

team in four years) clocked MATT REMPE with a 

couple of solid rights, putting the New York Rangers’ 6-9 

tough guy on the shelf with an upper body injury most 

likely a busted jaw. And here we thought Reaves’ career 

as an enforcer was over … given his lack of winning 

fisticuffs in recent years. In 35 games with Toronto a 

season ago, he had one bout, losing a decision to 

Columbus counterpart MATHIEU OLIVIER.

Until next time ...