May 7, 2009
PORT ST. LUCLIE, Fla. – The Winston-Salem State University men’s golf team will travel to Port St. Lucie, Fla. this weekend to compete in the 23rd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship, May 8-10, 2009.
Now in its 23rd year, the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship will feature nearly 200 athletes from minority-serving institutions and minority students attending any college or university.
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The Championship, May 8-10, will be staged for the 12th consecutive year at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
A total of 38 colleges and universities will be represented and participate in the three-day competition that will be contested on the Tom Fazio designed Ryder and Wanamaker Courses.
“The PGA of America is excited to host this Championship, which continues to grow in stature each and every year,” said PGA of America President Jim Remy.
“The playing experience, as well as the Business of Golf Career Expo provides student-athletes with a rare opportunity to showcase their talent on and off the golf course.”
The 54-hole, stroke-play championship will consist of four team divisions: NCAA Men’s Division I and II, and NAIA Men’s and Women’s. In addition, there is an Individual Invitational competition for minority men and women contestants. The Individual Invitational is open to students who are African-American, Hispanic-American, Native- or Alaskan-American, Asian- or Pacific Island-American.
“It is an honor to host the 2009 PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship for a 12th consecutive year,” said PGA Village General Manager Bob Baldassari.
“We believe both courses will provide a stern test of golf as collegiate golfers from across the country gather for a most prestigious Championship” Baldassari added.
In addition to the defending Champion men’s and women’s teams from Bethune-Cookman University, Fayetteville State University will make a bid for a fourth consecutive title in Men’s Division II.
Sara Young of Florida State University, the defending champion in the Independent Women’s division and a college senior, will also look to defend her title this year.
The Championship also features the 15th Business of Golf Career Expo, which will highlight some 25 golf industry associations and companies that will present student-athletes with the opportunity to learn about employment opportunities within the golf industry including manufacturing, media, trade, golf course management and the premier governing bodies in the industry.
The PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship originated from a meeting in November 1986 following the Jackson State University Golf Tournament. The late Dr. Herschel Cochrane, Dr. Joe D. Saunders of the National Negro Golf Association, Jackson State University Golf Coach Eddie Payton, Rose Harper-Elder of the Sports Management Institute and William (Bill) Dickey founder of the Bill Dickey Scholarship Association and the 1999 PGA Distinguished Service Award winner, are credited as the founders of this Championship.
The goal was to elevate the game of golf in minority colleges and universities by giving them a chance to compete in a championship because of being denied opportunities to compete in NCAA Collegiate Golf events. The first Championship was conducted in the spring of 1987 at Highland Park Golf Course in Cleveland, Ohio. Since 1998, The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., has been host to the Championship.
In 2006, The PGA of America was granted complete ownership and management of the championship by the National Minority Collegiate Golf Scholarship Fund.
In 1990, a Career Fair was conducted for the first time in conjunction with the Championship to provide corporate sponsors the opportunity to interview and recruit outstanding college students for future employment. As a result, the Career Fair has developed into an invaluable resource to assist students in gaining internships and full-time positions within the golf industry.
In addition, State Farm Insurance has extended its sponsorship to support the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship through 2010. The State Farm sponsorship provides funding of a one-hour Championship highlight program on Golf Channel.
Students from participating schools in the 2009 Championship can apply to receive scholarship awards from State Farm Insurance for their academic excellence at their respective institutions.
Method of Play: Stroke play, three rounds of 18 holes. Competition will be held in the following divisions: Men’s Division I, Division II and NAIA; Women and Independent Men’s and Women’s.
Rules and Regulations: The Rules of Golf, which govern play, are determined by the United States Golf Association and applied by The PGA of America Board of Directors. The PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship is subject to the overall supervision of The PGA of America Rules Committee.
Eligibility: Contestants must be students of a university or college, and who have met all the academic requirements of their respective institution governing participation in intercollegiate athletics.
