JACKSON, Miss. | Jackson State University Vice President/Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson announced Rob Ford II as the new head coach of the Tigers’ HBCU golf programs.

“This is an exciting time at Jackson State,” Robinson said. “We are bringing back one of our winningest programs back, and not only bringing both back, but we are bringing them back with an alum leading the way. We are excited to have Robert (Ford), a two-time Jackson State graduate, lead the way and build this program.”

Ford returns to Jackson State where he earned his degree in Health & Physical Education with a minor in Mass Communications. He also finished with a Master’s in Sports Science. 

“I am excited to be back home,” Ford said. “I am excited to get the chance to challenge the minds of our student-athletes and change their lives on and off of the golf course.” 

He comes to Jackson State University after a stint as the head coach of the golf programs at Andrew College (Cuthbert, Ga.) for the last year where he oversaw and managed all aspects of the team, while also developing and implementing training programs to enhance the skills of the athletes. Prior to his stop at Andrew College, Ford served as the assistant coach at Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) member, Prairie View A&M. He also served as the second assistant golf professional at Annadale Golf Club in Madison (Miss.) where he provided lessons and clinics to golfers of all skill levels.

Ford looks to revitalize the HBCU golf programs that have been dormant since 2017. Prior to that, the women (started in 1994) won 14 SWAC championships and became the first HBCU to appear in the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, the men won 25 SWAC titles, including 23 straight from 1989 to 2011, and became the first HBCU men’s team to appear in the NCAA Tournament.

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The venue was previously an unused locker room in Jake Gaither Gymnasium. It now has an artificial turf surface, and regulation putting holes, and the walls are wrapped to showcase their 2024 PGA Works Collegiate Championship.

Former FAMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes was beaming at the opportunity to offer the golf team their own place to improve their game.  “This is a very transformational project on our campus,” Sykes said. “ We believe it to be the first of its kind in any HBCU space.  When I took over the helm of FAMU Athletics in January of 23’, this was a staff locker room, and we had a team that was essentially unhoused. So, I gave up that space to give it to our student-athletes.   Don’t want to say this was the reason you all were national champions, but we just made it home for you.  I hope you know how much it means to me to give to you in that particular way.” 

Central Florida donors made the HBCU facility possible

Rattler donors from central Florida sponsored the upgrades to the locker room.  The team now has both a driving range and a putting surface on campus, allowing members of the golf team to practice between classes.

FAMU head coach Mike Rice, a FAMU Sports Hall of Fame golfer, was pleased to see the facility come to fruition.  Rice first led the Rattlers to the HBCU National Championship as a player and individual national champion in 2000.  He would lead the Rattlers 24 years later to their second national championship as the head coach of his alma mater’s team.

“What a heck of a year we had.  Definitely an experience that I’ll never forget.  I was fortunate to play in the event we won and play in it 24 years ago.  We’ve been chasing it for a long time,” Rice said.

FAMU Interim President Dr. Timothy Beard is a golfer

FAMU Interim President Dr. Timothy Beard, a golfer himself, took several putts, including sinking a long right-to-left breaker.  The following day he would participate in the Rattler Boosters Golf Tournament, but on that day he was happy to be leading his alma mater.

“We often call certain things transformative,” Beard said. “What I’ve heard today is indeed transformative.  To our golf team, you’re the best.  I only ask one question of you…you need to help me with my handicap,” he said to rousing applause.

The FAMU alums behind the transformation were Ricardo “Rick” Kinsey, Maurice Pickett, and Keith Stubbs.  The trio have partnered with the Plant City Chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association, where Pickett is the president, to make significant donations in the academic, ROTC, and athletics departments of FAMU over the last decade.  Kinsey is slated to be inducted into the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame in September of this year as a financial contributor.  They have been steadfast in their support of FAMU Golf purchasing electronic carts for each player, golf bags, and anything else requested from the golf coach.

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STAMFORD, Conn., and ST ANDREWS, Scotland  — NBC Sports and St. Andrews Link Trust revealed their field for the 2024 St. Andrews Links Collegiate, presented by TopGolf and World Wide Technology, where Howard University men’s and women’s golf teams were among the selected participants. The announcement came on July 9. Howard will be the only HBCU participating in this year’s event.
 
The three-day tourney (Oct. 14-16) is set to take place in St. Andrews, Scotland, the birthplace of golf. NBC Sports will present live coverage on the GOLF Channel and Peacock in the U.S., while Sky Sports will provide coverage in the U.K.
 
The second annual event features men’s and women’s golf teams from four institutions with two days of stroke play on the Jubilee Course, followed by medal match play on the Old Course at St. Andrews.
 
“It’s an honour for us to host the second St Andrews Links Collegiate, delivered by our partners at NBC Sports, and we are delighted to have TopGolf and World Wide Technology on board to support this event, said Neil Coulson, Chief Executive of St Andrews Links Trust. “We are pleased these four iconic institutions have accepted the invitation to compete and offer this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to their student-athletes. It will be a special occasion to watch the teams go head-to-head while featuring on live TV coverage and we look forward to welcoming them to the Home of Golf later this year.”

 
Joining the Bison of HBCU golf in this year’s field includes Arizona, Northwestern and host St. Andrews. This marks the first appearance in the event for all four universities.
 
“We are proud to partner with St Andrews Links Trust on the second annual collegiate tournament at the Home of Golf,” said Andrea Starkey, NBC Sports VP, Golf Partnerships and Rights Management. “The inaugural St Andrews Links Collegiate was a success for all involved and we’re excited to showcase four new men’s and women’s teams from the distinguished universities of the University of Arizona, Northwestern University, Howard University and the local University of St Andrews.”
 
Entering the season, the men’s team looks to repeat as Northeast Conference (NEC) Champions while the women’s squad continues its pursuit for an NEC title in spring 2025.

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TOLEDO, Ohio | Alabama State University, an HBCU in Montgomery, Alabama will see Assistant Men’s and Women’s Assistant Golf Coach Robert Clark inducted into the African American Sports Legends Hall of Fame at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 15th in Toledo, Ohio.

“I am so happy for Coach Clark and his family in the recognition of his life-long excellence in sports. Congratulations!”  Head Golf Coach Quincy Heard stated.

Clark has been with the Hornets and Lady Hornets HBCU golf program since 2011. The Lady Hornets have won the SWAC Conference Championship in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, and 2024 and the men have won SWAC Championships in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.

Clark’s golf career started in 1965, working up to being accepted as a Pro Golf Association of America apprentice in 1993, under the tutelage of PGA Professional Byron Wood. He was elected as a member of the PGA of America in 1993, becoming the first African American PGA Professional in the state of Oregon. Now he’s a member of the African American Sports Legends Hall of Fame.

After just one year of being a professional, Clark founded the Portland Youth Golf Association (PYGA); a PGA-recognized golf school.  This was a golf school aimed to give the children of Portland a chance to live out their golfing dreams.

PYGA teaches four principles:  Life Skills, Character Development, Academic Success, and GOLF. For the next 17 years, the volunteer instructors, teachers, and I serviced the youth of Portland. His professional peers in the Pacific Northwest Section PGA voted him the JUNIOR GOLF LEADER OF THE YEAR from 2000-2005.  He also mentored the second African American PGA Professional Oregon and current Alabama State Head Golf Coach, Quincy Heard.

Clark graduated from Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio, and on to attend the University of Toledo for two years before transferring to HBCU Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, earning his B.S. degree in education degree.

During multiple careers, he taught 6th grade in Toledo for a couple of years, worked at A&P Food Corporation; the largest food chain in the world at the time, General Electric Corporation, Owens Corning Fiberglass, Ruben H. Donnelly Adverting Corporation, The Principal /Financial Group and Horace Mann Insurance Corporation.

Robert Clark started playing golf in 1965, and after four years passed, his scores were good enough that he felt to become a professional golfer.

Established in 2004, The African American Legacy Project of Northwest Ohio is a 501(c)3 organization that pledges to stimulate intellectual, socioeconomic, and participatory growth in communities wherein African Americans reside.

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Mack played himself into contention to make the 36-hole elimination cut. As with many professionals, the pin placement and lightning fast greens on cut day left no room for error resulting in Mack being eliminated from contention.

He would end his run with a 10-over-par 80 in the second round of the 2022 U.S. Open.  Mack was just unable to get things going in the right direction, and with the holes’ challenges, mistakes ended up compounding before things got better.

After qualifying for the tournament in the play-in, Mack became a fan favorite as the story of his irregular journey to even pursue a career in golf became public.  While the B-CU alum was honored with the opportunity to play in the U.S. Open, with his experiences on the APGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, and PGA Tour, he is far beyond taking symbolic victories and is working to secure the ability to compete on the PGA Tour on a regular basis.

Not since Jackson State’s Tim O’Neil qualified for the U.S. Open in 2015 had an HBCU alum made their way to the competition. At that time, JSU had one of the best golf programs in the country under coach Eddie Payton.

The front nine was a challenge within itself on Friday.  Willie Mack III would card three birdies and six pars on the front en route to a 3-over-par score of 38.  The back nine is where things fell apart.  Mack simply wouldn’t be able to keep things going as he carded a 42, which in itself was 7-over-par.  He would tally an 11-over-par total for the tournament after hanging within the cut line for the entire front nine.

The U.S. Open is made to be a tournament that challenges golfers to make par.  This year’s tournament challenged most of the field to do just that.  Several big names like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Rickie Fowler also failed to make the cut.  Mack bested most of their scores until the final nine holes simply took his momentum.

Support for Mack’s run was rampant on social media.  A Facebook group called Black Golf Alliance had several posts supporting Mack’s run and was active in detailing their experiences with Mack during his career.  HBCU groups also noted Mack’s run, though many only knew of his attending B-CU but were not aware of his career since he turned pro.

Nevertheless, while Willie Mack will likely kick himself for how close he came to the pinnacle of his career, he has gained many casual fans in the process.  The resilient journeyman will continue his career in much the same manner as he has made for himself, by grinding his was to every opportunity.  All the way, making the HBCU nation proud.

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Howard University men’s golf team wrapped up its historic season as the best team in HBCU golf after competing in its first-ever NCAA Regionals at the Finley Golf Course (par-70, 7,084 yards), hosted by the University of North Carolina (UNC).
 
Overall, HU shot 49-over par (889) during three rounds while placing 13^th in the team standings.
 
After 54 holes of play, graduate Gregory Odom Jr. (Memphis, Tenn.) finished seven-over par (217) to lead the Bison.
 
Fellow classmate Everett Whiten Jr. (Chesapeake, Va.) posted the best round on Day Three for HU, firing even par (70) with four birdies. The Virginia native placed one stroke behind Odom (218, +8).

 
Senior Marcus Smith Jr. (Rockford, Ill.) posted a 220 (+10) in three rounds, followed by newcomer Bear Huff (Riverside, Calif.) with a 25-over par (235) effort.
 
Freshman Kezaia Dimosi (London, England) closed out his rookie campaign with a 10-over par (80) performance in round three.
 
Clemson won the team title (815, -25), edging out East Tennessee State (ETSU) by one stroke (816, -24). Both squads advanced to the NCAA Championship Round, along with UNC (820, -20) and Georgia Tech (823, -17). Baylor (825, -15) held on to earn the fifth and final spot, outlasting Alabama (826, -14) and Long Beach State (827, -13).
 
UNC’s Austin Greaser won the medalist after shooting 13-under par (197) in three rounds, topping Baylor’s Johnny Keefer and North Carolina State’s Nick Matthews by one stroke (198, -12). Despite the runner-up finish, Mathews advanced to the NCAA Championship with the best performance among the 10 competing individual golfers.
 
The five teams and Matthews are set to compete in the 2024 NCAA Championship (May 24-29) in Carlsbad, Calif.
 
Howard University Director of Golf Sam Puryear and the HBCU golf-leading Bison look to repeat as NEC Champions while returning back to the NCAA Regional Round in spring 2025.

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FAMU got its second national championship with Rice at the helm of the team as head coach on Wednesday.  The title was never in doubt as the Rattlers jumped out to a double-digit lead on the first day and ballooned it to 21 strokes at the end of the second day.  In the third round, the team bested the Alabama State Hornets by 8-net points, ballooning the final margin to 29 strokes.

The Rattlers also dominated the top medalist spots, taking three of the top four slots.    Marcus Taylor took top medalist honors of the tournament finishing with a total of +2 for the tournament after carding a one-under-par 71 on the challenging TPC Sawgrass Stadium course.  FAMU’s Patrick Mwendapole would take second place, finishing at seven-over-par for the three-day total.  Jared Southerland of Tennessee State University finished third at eight-over par, while Taylor Bell of FAMU placed fourth, finishing at 10-over-par and tied with Prairie View A&M’s Rondarius Walters.

FAMU now holds two national championship crowns

FAMU now holds two current HBCU national championships when coupled with the Rattler football team’s HBCU football national championship.

Rice, a FAMU sports Hall of Famer for his play at FAMU, was ecstatic to be a part of both FAMU’s first championship as a player and the current national championship as the head coach.

“I’m just honored to be back at Florida A&M and 24 years is a long time coming,” Rice said.  “I’m just really excited for the guys to have a chance at this championship, which is probably the best run tournament we play in all year.  The golf course was playing tough all week and we’re just glad to come out a champion.”

The 2024 PGA Woks Collegiate Championship was held at the TPC Sawgrass at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The course was set up to mimic the tough condition of the annual PGA Tour’s The Players Championship played annually on the same course.  The PGA Works utilized both courses at Sawgrass, the Valley and the world-famous Stadium Course with its signature island 17^th green.

FAMU became the new champion as the defending champion Howard Bison, who won the NEC championship did not compete in the tournament.  The Bison are in preparation to make an appearance at the NCAA Regional this weekend.

Chaminade (Hawaii) takes Division-II Championship

It was a tight battle for the Division II national championship.  In the end, Chaminade University of Honolulu edged out Lincoln University (MO)by one stroke to take the championship.  Bluefield State took third place honors.

In Division II, the race would be tight going into the last round before Chaminade prevailed.  Going into the final round, there was a log jam at the top of the leaderboard as Lincoln University of Missouri, Bluefield State University, Chaminade University of Honolulu, and Kentucky State University all in position to win the title.

Austin Shoemaker of Lincoln University took the medalist honors for Division II.  Ethan Alexander placed second for Chaminade, while Robert Johnson of Kentucky State placed third.

Howard women’s golf takes runners-up

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi made a late charge on the second round to overtake the Howard Bison.  It was a two-team race going into the final round.  In the end, Texas A&M would edge out the Bison by five strokes, prevailing as the PGA Works 2024 Women’s Collegiate national champions.  Howard would take second place.  Head coach and Director of Golf Sam Puryear was here pushing the ladies to make the charge.

Sadanun Sitanonth took home medalist honors with a +4 overall score.  University of British Columbia’s Una Chou took second place.

Several seniors played their intercollegiate tournament and will be looking for opportunities to further their golf aspirations.  PGA Works, the APGA Tour and the PGA Tour is committed to growing the game of golf through education and diversity.

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He closed with an eagle on the par-5 18th hole after a shaky closing stretch to tie T9 at the Boeing Classic in Snoqualmie, Washington. It was his best finish of the year.

Through 15 events, O’Neal sits at 44th in the Charles Schwab Cup standings with nine events left before the Tour championship on Nov. 9-12 in Phoenix, Arizona. The top 36 automatically earn their cards for next season.

He is teeing it up this week at the Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta in Canada. It will be played at the Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club Friday thru Sunday. Two-hour first round TV coverage begins on Friday (Aug. 18) at 3 p.m. on Peacock TV. The Golf Channel will carry Saturday and Sunday’s coverage from 4-7 p.m.

Shaky, but fine finish for Tim O’Neal

O’Neal shot 70-66 on the par 72 course of The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge near Seattle. He entered Sunday’s final round at 8 under par. After 13 holes Sunday, he was 2-under for the round and 10-under for the tournament. He was in position to claim a top-five finish behind eventual winner Stephen Ames, who won at 19-under.

But O’Neal bogeyed the 14th and 16th holes, before putting two balls in the water on the par 3 17th for a quadruple bogey 7. He’d gone 6 over in a four-hole stretch and dropped from T3 to outside the top 10 with only the par-5 18th to play.

“I was not happy,” O’Neal said in a story by Bob McClellan, featured on the Champions Tour website Wednesday. “I was seeing red. But I hit a good drive in the fairway (on 18). Had 203 (yards) to the front, 224 to the hole, wind hurting a little bit. Hit a 4-iron just right at it. I didn’t realize it was that close till I got up to the green.”

The ball landed within 2 feet of the hole. He tapped it in for an eagle, salvaging his round and the tournament.

His final round 2-over 74 allowed him to finish at -6, tied with three other golfers for ninth.

Where Tim O’Neal stands

Always known for his driving prowess off the tee, O’Neal currently leads the PGA TOUR Champions in Driving Distance with an average of 306.2 yards. If he maintains this length, he will rank second all-time in the category. He ranks 47th in stroke average at 71.98. He is competing with the likes of Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, David Toms and others with sterling PGA resumes.

What has hurt him, he says is his wedge game.

“They get it inside 120 yards, they don’t miss,” O’Neal told McClellan of senior players like Steve Stricker and Bernhard Langer, who are 1-2 in money winnings on the tour. “Any time those guys have wedge in their hands, it’s on. And it’s not just sometimes. It’s consistently.

“That’s where I need to get.” Stricker has amassed over $3 million in earnings this season, Langer and Ames are over $1.6 million.

After his $55,000 payday Sunday, O’Neal has made $295.121 so far this season with five top 25 finishes. His previous bests were a T10 at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic and a T11 at the Regions Tradition, both in May.

The Tim O’Neal story

O’Neal helped Jackson State under then head coach Eddie Payton to its first NCAA Div. I Golf Tournament berth in 1995. He was also on the team that won the first of 23 straight men’s SWAC golf titles. O’Neal celebrated his 51st birthday on Aug. 3.

At JSU, he won 16 college golf tournaments and was a star. In his final season (1997), he led the nation with a 71.83 stroke average and also won the Georgia Amateur Championship. Tiger Woods, then of Stanford, had led the nation in 1996 with a average of 70.61. Professional stardom as the next great African-American in professional golf appeared on the horizon for O’Neal.

Twice, in 2000 and 2004, he missed out by a single stroke at qualifying school on gaining his PGA Tour card. He has played on every iteration of the PGA’s secondary tours including the Buy.com, Nationwide, Web.com and Korn Ferry Tours. He has also competed on the APGA Tour. Internationally, he has competed on the Asian Tour, the EGolf Professional Tour, the EPD Tour and at the Morocco-based Atlas Pro Tour.

In 2013, he won two events on the PGA Tour Latimamerica that allowed him to regain his card on the Web.com Tour. Seven times he failed to make the cut while playing in PGA Tour events.

Making the grade, burying demons

Despite the crushing setbacks at PGA Q-school early in his career, O’Neal was just one of five players to earn their PGA TOUR Champions card at Q-school last December. He had one of the most clutch finishes ever, birdieing four of his last six holes to shoot a second straight six-under-par 65 and tie for third to earn his full card for the 2023 season.

“Q-School has never been fun for me,” O’Neal said at the time. “This is a new beginning for me finally having status on the PGA Tour. I’m looking forward to 2023.”

He’s proving he belongs.

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Last season was the breakout season, after holding the lead for the first two days of their initial campaign after the program’s restart, they would succumb to the Prairie View A&M Panthers who took home the 2021 title.  Since then, it’s been all Bison.  Last year behind the stellar play of Gregory Odom Jr., HU would capture their first-ever PGA Works Collegiate Championship.  This year, it was no contest.  From day one the Bison dominated the field, winning the championship by 57 strokes.  This year Everett Whiten Jr. would be the medalist, turning in the lowest score, followed by Odom.

Hu head coach Sam Puryear is ecstatic about the opportunity the young men are receiving as six Howard University golfers are taking part in the tournament and playing on a world class course that is set to host the Women’s U.S. Open.    

“It’s neat to have an opportunity right now to come out and have a fundraiser at Pebble Beach,” said Puryear.  “If you’re matching Pebble Beach with Howard at this point it’s just a beautiful thing.  We’re trying to create some funding that will sustain the program long term and allow us to operate and be competitive.  This fundraiser is essential in our development right now.”

Stephen Curry shows off his skill

Curry upstaged everyone on last Sunday though.  Playing on the famous course, he hit a perfect drive to within 97-yards of the green.  He pulled out a wedge, hit it high past the cup and spun it back in for an eagle that electrified the crowd following him.  Curry is better known for his long-distance shots as the NBA’s most prolific three-point shooter.

Puryear sees Stephen Curry as one of the ingredients for his team’s success…a key ingredient.  Following the PGA Works Championship, he stated that four things contributed to their success: Support from the university and athletics department, great recruiting of athletes, solid coaching and execution by the players strategies and the funding Curry injected into the program.  Puryear doesn’t waver from that recipe.

Howard University coach sticks to a formula for success

“At the end of the day, even the order of those four changes.  No.1, you have to have the funding to support the other elements.  No.2, we’ve been able to recruit the right students that are doing so well in school that have also been able to excel on the golf course,” Puryear said. “That makes it easier to maintain a really, really good competitive schedule because they can handle the academic workload.  From there, when you put all that in place with the proper funding, with the proper support and definitely with the proper young folks, you have something that people have never seen before.”

Howard University golfers have been getting professional experiences over the last two years.  We followed step-for-step in 2021 when Odom was given a sponsor’s exemption to play in the Wells Fargo Championship on the PGA Tour.  With the team’s rankings, as we await the final APGA Tour annual rankings, Bison golfers are expected to earn their APGA Tour card which is growing in popularity and purses. Last year, for the first time, the APGA Tour reached over $2 million dollars in purses and prizes.  For winning last year’s APGA Tour Player of the Year, former B-CU golfer Willie Mack II also won a free year lease of a Lexus.

The experience is top notch and is great exposure for the players.

“It’s pretty phenomenal for our guys to get this opportunity,” Puryear said. “The golf course is in pristine condition, the grandstands and scoreboards are up (in preparation for next week’s women’s U.S. Open) and one thing I really appreciate is that the student-athletes are very appreciative of everything that has taken place and everything that is taking place.”

The recent developments on the PGA and LIV Tours has caused even more confusion as to how the two leagues will either co-exist or merge.  Puryear states that while those are lofty goals, it’s not lost on his team to enjoy the moment they are in. 

“The one thing we’ve talked a lot about is opportunity and access,” Puryear said.  “I don’t mean access and opportunity from the perspective of who can become a professional golfer.  I mean opportunity and access from the perspective of who can become a professional person. If you give people the opportunity and access and the tools, they are going to be successful in life.”

When talking about Stephen Curry and his dedication to the Bison, the core meaning of his mission comes to focus. 

“He loves the student-athletes.  He’ll tell you that having the opportunity to support the young folks and to Facetime them, workout with them, play golf with them…when he’s able to do that type of stuff it all works out,” Puryear concluded. “We’re pretty thankful that we get the opportunity to do it.”

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (June 28, 2023) — Howard University golfers Gregory Odom Jr. (Memphis, Tenn.) and Everett Whiten Jr. (Chesapeake, Va.) are set to compete in the annual Memorial Health Championship, presented by LRS, as part of the Korn Ferry Tour. The four-day event (June 29-July 2) takes place at the Panther Creek Country Club (71-par, 7,228 yardage) in Springfield, Ill.
 
The duo guided HU to back-to-back PGA Works Collegiate Golf Championships (2022 & 2023) and a runner-up finish at the Northeast Conference Championships in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Odom competed in 11 tournaments (32 rounds) during his final season with six top 10 finishes, including five in the top 5. The Memphis product won a pair of tournaments along the way: River Run Collegiate (Sept. 19-20) and Howard-USF Collegiate Invitational (Sept. 26-27).
 
Whiten saw action in 34 rounds (12 tournaments), earning six top 10 finishes, including three in the top 5. At the PGA Works Collegiate Championships (May 8-10), the Virginia native took home the individual medal after shooting 201, including a season-best 64 in the final round.
 
The Virginia native returns to HU in the fall for his final season.
 
Howard wrapped up its third spring season under Coach Sam Puryear, highlighted by back-to-back PGA Works Collegiate Championships.

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The organization held its annual golf tournament while honoring the Pennsylvania native.

“This honor means a lot,” said Abrams. “For a while, people of color were excluded from this sport for quite some time. So, this is a dream come true.”

In her final full season, Abrams competed in eight tournaments (22 rounds) with three top 15 finishes. On March 26, 2022, she guided the club to victory at the Cardinal Classic, placing third overall in the event (79, +7).

“Kendel is an incredible young lady,” said Howard Director of Golf Sam Puryear. “She has grown up in the game of golf and she has definitely made a difference. Although she was a good player, her greatest contribution was creating programs for young girls. Her program gave these young ladies some door opening opportunities.”

Academically, Abrams made the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Commissioner’s All-Academic Team twice and the Northeast Conference Spring Academic Honor Roll. In May 2023, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing.

“I hope this inspires more people of color to play collegiate golf,” Abrams continued. “Even if they don’t have interest in playing professionally, showing interest and staying in the industry to build their own legacy would be phenomenal.”

Currently, Abrams is interning at the illustrious Pebble Beach Golf Resort in Pebble Beach, Calif., which is rated the No. 1 public course in the country.

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At the center of the confusion is PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.  The previous PGA Tour Commissioner was Tim Finchem.  Finchem is credited with the largest advances the PGA Tour took during his tenure, but that was of course aided with the most popular golfer ever in Tiger Woods.  

Woods’ popularity as the biggest figure in sports who happened to play golf allowed the PGA Tour to capitalize off the leverage, maximize tournament purses, exploded partnerships, and ruled the TV ratings for its major tournaments.

Finchem resigned in 2016 and Monahan took over in 2017.  Coupled with the decline in performance of Woods, the PGA Tour not only leveled off, but with the pandemic, it was forced to cut back onsite of its lofty goals.

LIV Tour was a game-changing opportunity

When the LIV Tour, championed by former PGA Tour player and major champion Greg Norman, began officially playing in 2021 it became a threat to the PGA Tour.  It was heavily funded by the Saudi Arabia National Wealth Fund.  Several PGA Tour notables including Bryson Dechambeau, Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson headed for the greener pastures of the LIV Tour, which was literally throwing millions of dollars to players to transfer to its upstart league.  Backed by the Saudi Public Fund, money would be no object as the oil-rich nation would provide the backing needed for the tour to have everything it both needed and wanted.

The hope for black golfers was that with two tours, there would be exponentially more openings to make a professional tour.  With several former HBCU players on the APGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour, the hopes of making it to one of the two mainstream tours escalated.

Willie Mack III on the cusp of a regular PGA Tour card

One of the most prominent HBCU golfers in the cue at this time is Willie Mack III.  Mack attended Bethune-Cookman where he helped the Wildcats to the MEAC Championship.  He was by far the best golfer in the MEAC during his college years.  He excelled and was granted playing status on the APGA Tour.  In 2021, he would win the APGA Tour Player of the Year Award, which guaranteed him access to the Korn Ferry Tour.  He has elevated to a full time player on the Kron Ferry Tour (the PGA Tour’s development league tour) and has made seven starts on the PGA Tour.  With his experiences on all the the tours, he is positioning himself to make strides in his desired career as a regular PGA Tour member.

There’s one more problem; no one can explain exactly what the PGA Tour and LIV Tour have agreed to.  Meanwhile, the most prominent black golfer in Harold Varner III has been steadily elevating his career on the LIV Tour.  He was once a member of the PGA Tour and represented the most promising black golfer since Tiger Woods, but was lured to the LIV Tour and he has excelled.  Not only has he made millions in his guarantee to be on the LIV Tour, but he recently won LIV Tour event in Washington D.C. which paid him $4 million for the win.

Howard University’s Gregory Odom Jr is expected to be the next HBCU Golfer to make a run at the professional ranks.

Even more confusion as to what the proposed partnership of the PGA Tour and LIV Tour has begun to emerge.  PGA Tour Hall of Famer Tom Watson joins the list of players formally denouncing the merger/partnership.  Watson wrote a scathing letter asking what exactly the deal entailed.  As an eight-time PGA Tour major champion, Watson sits on the upper echelon of respectability among world golfers.

To top that off, the concern and lack of details has reached the U.S. Congress.  Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D-Conn.) has asked for a congressional review of the deal.  By involving a country which the U.S has had strained relationships with, the matter of national security can not be ignored.  What seemed as a bright future for golf on June 6 has turned into the most chaotic era of professional golf to date.

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BESSEMER, Ala. — Three rounds under par lead Micah Stangebye to an individual win and propels Kentucky State University men’s golf to a team victory at the 2023 PGA Works Division II Collegiate Championship in Bessemer, Alabama. 
 
The Thorobreds opened the championship on the Bent Brook Golf Course and fired a three-under team score of 281. Stangebye led the way with a 67, and his teammate Max Dufey fired a 70. Both Robert Johnson and Jean-Marc Chevrotiere shot a 72. Ryan Khounlavong opened the tournament with a 77. 
 
In the second round, Kentucky State University continued to dominate the field, leading and finishing the round with a team total of 301. Stangebye improved from his first-round score with a 66. Johnson was next with a 75, followed by his teammate Duffey finishing the day with a 78. Khounlavong rounded out the team total with an 82. Chevrotiere rounded out the day with an 84. 
 
Stangebye had his third straight round in the ’60s with a final round 69; his teammate Johnson led the Thorobreds with a 68. Chevrotiere had his best round of the tournament with a 69. Dufey completed the team score with a 74, and Ryan rounded out the day with a 77. 
 
Alongside individual winner Stangebye, Johnson finished fourth, Dufey placed seventh, and Chevrotiere tied for ninth.

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The Bison literally obliterated the usual HBCU suspects en route to taking their second consecutive PGA Woks Collegiate Championship, which has for decades has been crowned the HBCU national championship. They didn’t just win the 2023 championship, they literally lapped the field. Shoal Creek Golf Course (Par 72) and Bent Brook Golf Course(Par 71) combined to host the 2023 PGA Works Collegiate Championship.

Howard University won by 57 strokes over second-place North Carolina A&T and 67 strokes over third place Florida A&M…yeah, they’re that good. Not only were they competing against the other teams in the field, the competition among the team members is pretty fierce in itself.

“It’s like Play-Doh. Mold it and make it and find the right pieces. A little experiment here, a little experiment there, but I learned a lesson a long time ago, “ Puryear said.   “You may think you’re a good coach, but you’re only as good as your players. The better players I go find, the better coach I become. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve been blessed enough to go find really good players and help make them better. And, in turn they make our program look super.”

For the last two years, Gregory Odom Jr. has walked away with medalist honors for the lowest individual score. This year, Everett Whiten Jr., also on the Howard team, led all golfers with a sizzling  14-under par (69,68,64). Whiten shot 3-under-par in the opening round at Shoal Creek,   3-under-par in the second round at Bent Brook, and a final round 8-under-par back at Shoal Creek. Odom would finish at 5-under-par and Howard teammate Marcus Smith finished at 4-under-par and constitute the only other players to score under par for the tournament.

Whitten, completing his senior season, went out with a bang. “I played good. Game felt good coming in,” Whiten said. “Unfortunately, last week at conference we couldn’t get the job done. When we got here, I told myself that my game feels good, just trust yourself and go out there and see what happens.”

Forced to play in the Northeastern Conference (NEC) after the exodus of several golf-playing schools from the MEAC, the Bison managed a second-place finish in the NEC tournament and with it goes an automatic qualification to the NCAA tournament. While Howard wishes it had the opportunity to compete in the NCAA tournament, nothing can detract from the complete tournament the Bison put on as a team.

While the assist from Stephen Curry was huge, Puryear credits a total support effort at Howard University for the success of the program.

 “People support the program and the administration likes and supports the program and for that I am grateful. You can’t do it without the support from the top. We have a unique village and that village is working really hard for us to become the best,” Puryear said.

While it remains to be seen if Stephen Curry can lead his Warriors to back-to-back titles, his Howard University golf program has already achieved that feat.

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — APGA Tour officials today announced the latest APGA Collegiate Ranking for the 2022-2023 season with Howard University’s Gregory Odom continuing to hold the top spot. 

Since November, Odom has held the top spot, which earned him an exemption to play as an amateur in the 2023 APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational at Torrey Pines in January where he finished third in difficult weather conditions. 

Michigan State’s Troy Taylor III maintained the second position in the latest rankings while Joel Basakaine from Livingstone College currently sits in third place.

Odom’s Howard University teammate Everett Whiten Jr., who was in third place in the previous published ranking, has been removed from the list as he plans to return for another year of collegiate golf.

The class of 2023 ranking includes Golfstat-ranked college tournaments played in Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022 and Spring 2023. The APGA Collegiate Ranking will be finalized following the conclusion of the NCAA D1 Regionals (May 15-17, 2023). 

The top five players in the final 2022-23 APGA Collegiate Ranking will receive:

• Scholarship access to APGA TOUR events through the remainder of the 2023 APGA Tour season
• Scholarship access into the Korn Ferry Qualifying School for the 2024 season
• Membership to the APGA Tour through May of 2024

Additional opportunities for 2022-2023 APGA Collegiate Ranking qualifiers include:

• An exemption into the APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational for the player holding the top spot in the rankings as of November 18 (Odom)
• The top-ranked player in the final, end-of-season rankings will receive a sponsor exemption into the 2023 UNC Health Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour

Rankings as of April 12, 2023:

The APGA Collegiate Ranking was announced in October 2020 through a partnership between the PGA TOUR and the APGA Tour. Eligible players are black golfers from NCAA Division I or II programs — including HBCUs — who exhaust a minimum of four years of college eligibility. The APGA Collegiate Ranking is based on players’ Golfstat adjusted scoring average, designed to evaluate the top players positioned to qualify for APGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament access.  

Additionally, in March the PGA TOUR formally announced its Pathway to Progression player development program, a comprehensive effort to achieve greater diversity in golf through an increased focus on developing talent from diverse and historically underrepresented groups. Pathway to Progression, in alignment with the APGA Tour partnership and the Collegiate Ranking program, will provide a path for talented junior and collegiate golfers from diverse backgrounds to continue their development in professional golf.

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Fayetteville State University closed out the final round of 18 holes with a two-over par 290 to secure the title. The Broncos shot a 295 in the opening round, followed by a 288 on the first day of competition. Student-athletes Caden Hodges, Juan Lopez, Brandon Jones, Shaun Wixson, and Jack McCarthy made up the Bronco squad.

Hodges, a freshman from Dunn, NC, finished with a three-round tournament with a 211 (-5) scorecard. He had a conference season average of 71.625 to claim the Player and Rookie of the Year accolades. Virginia Union finished in second place with a team score of 883 (+19). Livingstone was third at 892 (+28).

The CIAA All-Tournament Team is comprised of golfers who finished in the top five of the championship tournament. Livingstone’s Joel Basakaine finished fifth with a 222 (+6). The Blue Bears’ Emmanuel Jakisa finished tied for third with Fayetteville State’s Juan Lopez. The two-shot two-over par 218. Alkin Barkley of Virginia Union finished second with an even-par 216. Hodges is also a member of the All-Tournament Team as the Low Medalist.

The All-CIAA Team consists of players with the top ten average scores from the CIAA Northern and Southern Division tournaments and the championship results.

Name â€‚                         School â€‚                Average

Juan Ruiz Patino â€‚      Virginia State â€‚         77.375

Ahmad Reedus â€‚         Virginia Union â€‚           77.0

Ronald Otile â€‚              Livingstone â€‚             75.125

Jack McCarthy â€‚         Fayetteville State â€‚      74.5

Chris Baguma â€‚          Livingstone â€‚            74.625

Travon Willis â€‚         Virginia Union â€‚             74.625

Hayden Garcia â€‚        Virginia Union â€‚            74.25

Alkin Barkley â€‚          Virginia Union â€‚            74.0

Juan Lopez â€‚            Fayetteville State â€‚       73.875

Caden Hodges â€‚       Fayetteville State â€‚       71.625

Hodges of Fayetteville State was also named 2023 CIAA Player of the Year, named 2023 CIAA Rookie of the Year. Fayetteville State’s Head Coach John Cole was named 2023 CIAA Coach of the Year after leading the Broncos to four first place finishes in CIAA Southern Division matches during the regular season.

The superlatives were voted on by the CIAA Golf Coaches Association and Sports Information Directors Association.

The 2023 CIAA Men’s Golf Championship results can be found on the 2023 CIAA Golf Championship page. For more information about the CIAA, visit www.theciaa.com and follow the conference on Facebook (The CIAA), Twitter (@CIAAForLife), and Instagram (@CIAASports).

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Jacksonville, Florida-During the first day of THE PLAYERS Championship, Associate Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Ivana Rich, Head Coach Kelly Allen, and the Edward Waters women’s golf program were the honored guests of Grant Thornton, sponsor of THE PLAYERS, recognizing the program as the Charity of the Day.

Grant Thornton, LLC, a Chicago-based audit, tax and advisory firm, hosted the team, took pictures, and allowed them to take in the first day of action at one of the PGA Tour’s premier events, known as golf’s unofficial “Fifth Major” and featuring some of the finest golfers in the world.

The Edward Waters women’s golf program is in the midst of their first season back as a varsity sport since May of 2021. A $50,000 grant from THE PLAYERS Championship allowed for the program to make its triumphant return to the Edward Waters athletics roster. Edward Waters is just the second HBCU in the state of Florida to have women’s golf as a varsity sport, along with Bethune-Cookman University.

“I am very appreciative of the PGA Tour, THE PLAYERS, Grant Thornton and all of the supporters of our program. Without it, would not be able to make it happen.” remarked Coach Allen. 

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CHARLOTTE, NC– HV3 Foundation is thrilled to partner with the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and be a part of their 59th annual CIAA Men’s Golf Conference Championship. This historic tournament will take place at Jacksonville Country Club in Jacksonville, NC on April 16-18, 2023, providing college-level golfers an opportunity to demonstrate excellence on the George Cobb designed golf course. 

“The CIAA is thrilled to partner with the HV3 Foundation whose mission is to provide affordable access to the sport of golf. The eight (8) member schools who sponsor golf will not only have an enhanced championship experience through this partnership with HV3, but additional exposure and visibility that our student athletes deserve,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker. “We are grateful for HV3’s vision and the alignment to support our conference and we are pleased to welcome them as a new partner of the CIAA family.” 

The partnership with the HV3 Foundation to sponsor and assist with operations is an exciting development for the college athletes representing the eight CIAA schools who will come together to compete for the team title and top individual honors. 

Harold Varner III, Founder and President of the HV3 Foundation, reminisced about his golf career as he announced his foundation’s involvement in sponsoring the tournament.  “Throughout my whole life of playing golf, I think my favorite time was college golf. I love the team atmosphere of trying to win a tournament, not only as a player, but as a team,” said Varner. 

Varner also expressed his enthusiasm for being involved in this major event: “Working with the CIAA and providing these guys with the best event at the championship level is very rewarding and I hope they all enjoy the experience.” 

This year, Livingstone College and 2022 individual medalist Joel Basalaine will be looking to repeat as conference champions. The Blue Bears are ranked eighth in the Atlantic Region of the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA)’s poll and their top challengers in the tournament will be Fayetteville State and Virginia Union. The Broncos, seeking their first golf championship since 2012, are the top-ranked team in the CIAA, sitting fourth in the regional rankings. The Panthers are ninth in the region and last won the conference title in 2019.
 

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This year marks the second year that the tournament has awarded the Pathway Player invitation into the Collegiate Showcase — given to a player of a minority background who is excelling on the golf course and academically. The invitation is intended to provide exposure and opportunity to high-level competition in support of the recipient’s professional golf aspirations.

“The Genesis Invitational is proud to welcome Gregory Odom, Jr. as the 2023 Collegiate Showcase Pathway Player,” Genesis Invitational Tournament Director Mike Antolini said. “Greg already has amassed an impressive list of accomplishments as an amateur, and we hope that the Collegiate Showcase can provide additional experience as he one day begins his professional career.”

Odom brings a wealth of experience into his start in the Collegiate Showcase. He made his PGA TOUR debut at the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship at TPC Potomac to go along with four career starts on the Korn Ferry Tour and one start on PGA TOUR Canada. Odom has won back-to-back PGA Works titles in 2021 and 2022 and helped Howard University win the team championship this past year. In the fall, Odom secured collegiate victories at the River Run Collegiate and USF-Howard Intercollegiate.

“It’s an honor to compete in the Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase, and I am proud to be named the 2023 Pathway Player,” Odom said. “I am excited to tee it up against a great field at Riviera while representing the tournament, the Pathway Player award and Howard University.”

Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Odom began his collegiate career at the University of Memphis. Following his sophomore season, Odom transferred to Howard, where he has helped spark the Bisons success. Recently Odom earned the top spot in the APGA Tour Collegiate Rankings, and with that a start in the 2023 APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational at Torrey Pines where he finished in third place.

As part of the Pathway Player award, The Genesis Invitational will support Odom’s and Howard University’s travel to Riviera. The tournament will also support select causes focused on providing minority golfers with access and opportunity to the game.

Odom and Howard University will join a diverse and experienced field of collegiate programs from around the country taking part in the 2023 Collegiate Showcase:

The 2023 Collegiate Showcase kicks off tournament week for The Genesis Invitational. With 19 teams competing in the annual event, the Collegiate Showcase features its largest field of collegiate players in the event’s nine-year history. The Collegiate Showcase has helped launch the careers of many PGA TOUR players, including Will Zalatoris, Sahith Theegala and Scottie Scheffler. Michael Brennan, the 2022 Showcase champion, looks to defend his title and is only the second champion to again tee it up in the event.

Past winners of The Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase include Brennan (2022, Wake Forest University), Angus Flanagan (2021, University of Minnesota), Sean Yu (2020, San Jose State University), Lukas Euler (2019, University of Kentucky), Scheffler (2018, University of Texas), Theegala (2017, Pepperdine University), Charlie Danielson (2016, University of Illinois) and Zalatoris (2015, Wake Forest University).

The Collegiate Showcase also features a pro-am competition with teams comprised of a PGA TOUR pro and two amateurs representing the college athlete’s school. The pro-am teams compete against each other in better ball play, with the winning team earning a $50,000 donation to the school’s golf program.

The Genesis Invitational will be held February 16-19 and will be broadcast on GOLF Channel and CBS. Tickets to the tournament are available here.

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It was meant to be a competition between the top HBCU golf teams in a PGA environment in celebration of the 100^th birthday of black golf pioneer Charlie Sifford.  Sifford’s sons Charlie Sifford Jr. and Roger Sifford along with other family members were present for the event as guests of the PGA. It ended up being much more than anticipated.  The day before the tournament was to take place, each of the six participating school golf programs were awarded $25,000 for whatever the programs desired.  With funding for most HBCU golf programs in a squeeze, the unexpected gift will go a long way to assist in the upcoming season.  

Adam Sperling, Executive Director of the PGA Tour and a representative of the President’s Cup was encouraged by the event leading up to the Presidents Cup.  

“We’re fortunate to have four wonderful sponsors to help us put on this event in Bridgestone, Citi, Cognizant and Nucor,” he said. “With their support and some other pieces that came together we were able to drive significant contributions to the programs. HBCU involvement in golf has ramped up over the years and we’re just finding our opportunity to fit in and do our part and certainly want to keep what momentum this weekend has been generated this weekend going.”

During a practice round, luncheon and various development activities, the golfers were all presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

HBCU golf stars show their stuff at Quail Hollow

Monday, it was all business as in the true fashion of the President’s Cup, players would play a singles round followed by a match play round.  Team Sifford, made up of Florida A&M, Alabama State, and Livingstone College defeated Team James Black which consisted of Johnson C. Smith, Howard and Texas Southern.

Players were fitted with a full complement of gear including new golf bags, polo shirts, hats and other incidentals.  The entire experience directly reflected what happens at official PGA and PGA Tour Events.

This wasn’t a celebratory lap or an NBA All-Star game, this was a competition.  The players responded with some very good stretches. Howard University’s Gregory Odom Jr., the reigning HBCU national medalist, pulled off a stretch of three birdies and an eagle on holes 11,12,13 and 14.  Everett Whiten (Howard), of the reigning national champion Bison, pulled off three birdies in a row, mastering holes 11, 12 and 13. Jacob Uyesato (FAMU) carded two consecutive birdies and an eagle on holes 6,7 and 8.  Ty Roberts (ASU) also carded three consecutive birdies on holes 4,5 and 6.

In the final tally, Team Sifford would score a 12-6 victory over Team Black.  The competition was followed by a group picture at the historic Quail Hollow courtyard and a brief celebratory reception as these HBCU golf stars shared the opportunity of a lifetime.

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PRAIRIE VIEW – Prairie View A&M Director of Athletics, Dr. Donald Reed, announced Tuesday the hiring of Mike Rice, who will serve as the new head men’s and women’s golf coach. 

“Rice will be a great addition to our golf program and I am confident that he will do a tremendous job leading our men’s and women’s golf programs in a winning direction,” said Dr. Reed.  “He brings a wealth of experience at various levels and his passion and vision for golf is impressive.  He has knowledge as not only a golf coach, but has expertise on how to operate a golf course.  We are delighted to have him aboard.”

After becoming an assistant coach in 2013 at FAMU, he was given the reigns as former FAMU golf coach in 2018 after Marvin Green stepped away from the university to take a position with the Florida Sports Foundation. 

Prairie View hires a winner

He led the Rattlers to a MEAC title and a berth to the 2021 NCAA Tournament, a first for both feats.  He would also make history as the 2021 team earned the No.1 ranking in the first-ever PGA Minority Collegiate rankings sanctioned by the PGA of America.  Rattlers would hold four of the top five positions in the ranking.   

With those rankings, four of the team’s players earned positions on the APGA Tour.  The four of them also turned professional two weeks after playing their last tournament for FAMU and earning winnings in their first tournament, the Billy Hoerschel Invitational at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 

Rice, a native of Apopka, Fla., was a former men’s golfer extraordinaire, he was a four-time All-American, who was also a three-time FAMU team MVP, and two-year team captain. He was the linchpin for the Rattlers’ 2000 National Minority Championship Team, finishing that event as the Top Individual Medalist, shooting a FAMU school record 10 under par 278.  

Prior to FAMU, Rice worked as a supervisor for golf operations at the Jake Gaither golf course from 2002-2011. 

Rice graduated from FAMU with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2002. He is married to Regina Rice and they have two children, Morgan and Michael. 

Keep up with all the latest news and information for PVAMU athletics by following pvpanthers.com as well as through Twitter via the PVAMU general sports account (@PVAMUPanthers). You can also follow along on Instagram.com/pvamupanthers. 

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“These six institutions remain firmly committed as full members of the MEAC, and this move solely involves their respective baseball and men’s golf programs. We look forward to their continued competition in MEAC athletics, which encompasses 14 men’s and women’s sports,” the MEAC said in a statement.  “In the event that membership expansion increases the number of baseball and men’s golf programs in the MEAC, it is our expectation that these programs will return.

As previously reported by Black College Nines, Coppin State, Delaware State, Maryland-Eastern Shore and Norfolk State have joined as associate members of the NEC in baseball.

The NEC will also absorb North Carolina Central, Maryland Eastern Shore and MEAC champion Howard in men’s golf. The women’s golf programs at Delaware State, UMES and NC Central will join the NEC as well. 

“We are thrilled to announce this associate member partnership with the MEAC baseball, women’s golf and men’s golf programs,” said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. “This is a win-win relationship for both conferences and places the student-athlete experience at the forefront. On behalf of the NEC Presidents and Athletic Administrators, we welcome these MEAC programs to the NEC family.”

Howard University has been an associate member of the NEC for years in several sports.

“This is a great opportunity for our men’s golf program,” Howard AD Kerry Davis said in a release. “Our student-athletes will have an opportunity to compete in a competitive conference while reducing their time away from the classroom. Thank you, Commissioner Noreen Morris and NEC Council of Presidents, we look forward to competing next year.”

Norfolk State AD Melody Webb said she’s excited about the opportunity. 

“This is a great opportunity for Norfolk State University as we continue to compete for a postseason berth while maintaining some old MEAC rivalries. The associate membership provides a new landscape to compete against eight new competitive programs and will only strengthen our baseball program moving forward.”

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The June 14th release of the 2020-2021 APR report by the NCAA confirmed that the FAMU Athletics Department overall made great grades in academic progress.  Led by the FAMU golf team, coached by Mike “JD” Rice, golf has maintained an average of 993 over the last four years.  Considering Rice has had to rebuild the team after graduating five stars last season with four of them playing professional golf on the APGA Tour currently, his dedication to academics is first and foremost.

“We work hard at it and we monitor them constantly.  I ask the questions about their classes and tell my guys I don’t want any surprises.  I work diligently with the academics department within athletics and rely heavily on progress reports they issue,” Rice told HBCU Gameday. “If you don’t have a 3.0 GPA, as a member of our golf team you are mandated to take study hall.  I continue to challenge the guys to be the best academic team in athletics.  Another key is we’ve got guys that help each other.  We’ve got some really smart guys on our team and when we find one on our team that has struggles, we pair them with one of the smarter guys and it seems to work wonders.”

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FAMU golf is experiencing success on and off the course.  It wasranked the No.2 minority golf team and was selected to participate in the inaugural Charlie Sifford Cup.  The tournament which is put on by the PGA Tour, mimics the President’s Cup tournament.  The minority teams will compete for a one day championship in Charlotte, NC in late August.

Several other FAMU teams garner excellent academic ratings

Following close behind golf are softball and men’s basketball.  Softball turned in a 975, while men’s basketball pulled down a 974.  Women’s tennis followed suit with a 966, while volleyball raked in a 964.  FAMU bowling also garnered a solid 962.  All of these ratings were excellent according to NCAA standards. 

The remainder of the top programs in FAMU Athletics are baseball (957), women’s track (954) and men’s track at 940.

Overall, the academic side of FAMU Athletics has remained strong with a few exceptions.  With the turnover at the athletics director position, it is a testament to the strong academics department at Florida A&M Athletics, that so many programs have achieved excellent ratings.

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CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — The Presidents Cup announced today the six teams set to compete in the inaugural Charlie Sifford Centennial Cup, slated for August 29, 2022, at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. for the event, which will showcase top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) men’s golf programs in a Presidents Cup competition during the event’s media day.

The 2022 Presidents Cup will be contested on September 20-25 at Quail Hollow Club.

Howard University, Florida A&M University, Alabama State University and Texas Southern University are the four Division I HBCU teams to qualify, while Livingstone College in nearby Salisbury, North Carolina, qualified as the top Division II HBCU program during the 2021-22 season. The qualifying schools were solidified via the Golfstat Ranking on May 5, 2022.

“Charlie Sifford’s legacy as the first African-American player on the PGA TOUR continues to impact future generations of golfers, allowing for kids from all backgrounds to experience this great sport,” said 2022 Presidents Cup Chair Johno Harris. “On behalf of the Presidents Cup and Quail Hollow Club, we are thrilled to welcome these top HBCU players to our community for a first-of-its-kind showcase event and the opportunity to compete on a world-class venue just weeks before the top U.S. and International players arrive in Charlotte.”

All participating teams will receive complimentary travel and accommodations for the event, with arrivals slated for Saturday, August 27. Teams will spend Sunday, August 28, at Quail Hollow Club, with a partner brunch hosted by Charles Sifford, Jr., practice rounds and a welcome reception that evening. On Monday, August 29, players will be split into teams of 12, competing in Four-Ball competition in the morning and Singles in the afternoon, before concluding the day alongside Captains Davis Love III and Trevor Immelman as they make their captains’ picks to round out their respective 12-player teams for the Presidents Cup.

“My father’s vision was that the golf establishment provide equal access to make the game of golf more inclusive to all people. The Charlie Sifford Centennial Cup is a great example of the diversity and inclusion that Dr. Charles Luther Sifford exemplified as the first African-American member of the PGA TOUR,” said Sifford’s son, Charles Sifford, Jr. “He dreamed of young people playing a championship course with the opportunity to acquire experience and knowledge of what it takes to compete at the highest level.”

“It has been amazing to watch these players compete throughout the 2021-22 season, and we are excited to finally announce the six teams who will play in the Charlie Sifford Centennial Cup,” said Presidents Cup Executive Director Adam Sperling. “Since we arrived in Charlotte, we wanted to ensure the priorities of our organization and the market were in line, while creating a meaningful impact through our event. We hope these efforts give way to a tremendous experience for these HBCU players and coaches at Quail Hollow Club and in Charlotte.” 

The Charlie Sifford Centennial Cup is presented by Bridgestone, Citi, Cognizant and Nucor.

In addition to the Charlie Sifford Centennial Cup, the Presidents Cup will host a Leadership Summit during event week on Wednesday, September 21. The Summit will highlight representatives from Bridgestone, Citi, Cognizant and Nucor, as well as other leadership executives from the world of sport, and presidents from HBCUs, with an in-depth discussion focused on DE&I efforts at the intersection of sport and corporate America, and the integral role HBCU programs can play in the growth and success of those efforts.

For more information about the Presidents Cup, or to purchase tickets, please visit PresidentsCup.com. 

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