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June 12, 2018

MEDIA ADVISORY - Pandel Savic

Dublin, Ohio – Officials of Muirfield Village Golf Club and the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide are deeply saddened to announce that Pandel Savic, the Tournament’s general chairman emeritus, passed away today in Columbus. He was 92.

Pandel was born in Macedonia and came to the United States at age nine. He fought for his adopted and beloved country as a United States Marine in the South Pacific during World War II before attending The Ohio State University. While at OSU, Pandel quarterbacked the Buckeyes to their first Rose Bowl victory in 1950. He is one of the founding members of Muirfield Village Golf Club and served as general chairman of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide for more than 30 years, helping the Memorial become one of the premier stops on the PGA TOUR. He was a friend and mentor to all that met him, and he will be dearly missed.

Memorial services are pending.

The following statements were released this afternoon by Jack Nicklaus, the Memorial Tournament and Muirfield Village Golf Club:

“Pandel Savic was as good a friend as I have ever had.

I have known Pandel since I was 6 years old, and until his passing this week, he had been a great friend, great supporter, and great family man. He helped to found Muirfield Village Golf Club and the Memorial Tournament. We partnered in a number of golf tournaments, and spent a lot of quality time together and shared countless laughs through the years. Pandel was general chairman of the Memorial Tournament for parts of four decades, and he helped build the foundation of the Memorial, and the Tournament we all enjoy and are proud of today.

He came to this country, by himself, as a 9-year-old immigrant from Macedonia, to join his father in Northern Ohio. A proud American, Pandel fought for our country at the age of 18 in the South Pacific. He then went on to Ohio State, and I vividly recall watching him play football when he quarterbacked the Buckeyes to their first-ever Rose Bowl victory in 1950. I was proud to be by his side when he was deservedly inducted into the Ohio State Hall of Fame.

Barbara and I, and he and his wife Janice, lived across the street from each other when we got married, and all our kids grew up together. He was a mentor to my kids, as well as to me. They all looked forward to their fireside chats with Pandel, or as they called him, “Big ‘Un.” I affectionately called him ‘Mack.’ He’s just one great guy. Our hearts hurt today over the loss of Mack.”

- Jack Nicklaus, Memorial Tournament Founder and Host

“Pandel Savic will always be remembered at Muirfield Village Golf Club and especially during the week of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide. He was a strong force to develop the Club and Tournament with Jack Nicklaus and those who preceded him, Bob Hoag and Ivor Young, from the early days in the late 60s and early 70s. Mr. Savic truly was the American dream fulfilled; immigrant, US Marine Corps veteran, Rose Bowl champion, father, grandfather and self-made businessman. It is an emotional day for our loyal staff to lose a very special person from our Club family. Mr. Savic was a steadfast advisor and confidant to me and I will never forget my friend.”

- Nicholas LaRocca, General Manager, Muirfield Village Golf Club

“We lost a great man today, a genuine American success story, in the passing of Pandel Savic. Over the years Mr. Savic contributed greatly to the success of Muirfield Village Golf Club and the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide. Mr. Savic loved the Club and the Tournament, joining Jack Nicklaus, Bob Hoag and Ivor Young as founders. He poured his heart and soul into making both, the world-class venue and Tournament, what they are today. Through my long tenure with the Memorial Tournament, Mr. Savic was an incredible mentor, and he always provided the right advice and guidance. All of which I will continue to carry with me for years to come. Mr. Savic will be dearly missed by many.”

- Dan Sullivan, Executive Director, the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide

About the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide

The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide is held annually at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. The Tournament, founded and hosted by Jack Nicklaus, is conducted each year with three goals in mind: to honor the memory of individuals living and deceased who have distinguished themselves in the game of golf; to showcase the world’s best golfers competing on one of the most challenging venues in the world for the enjoyment of spectators; and to benefit many Greater Columbus Charities in alliance with the Nicklaus Children's Healthcare Foundation, Nationwide Children's Hospital and numerous other local organizations. For more information, visit www.thememorialtournament.com or call 614-889-6700.

About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

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