Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas, TX hosts inaugural event featuring 42 amateur players from diverse backgrounds.
For many years the objective to grow the game of golf has centered on the idea that golfers from diverse backgrounds would populate a golf broadcast for the masses to consume. Making the objective a reality has yielded many incomplete ideas until now. The Southwest Showcase held at Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas, TX November 13th through 15th provided a resounding statement that preparation paired with opportunity when there is internal drive yields success. The 54-hole stroke play event featured 42 players- 21 men and 21 women who represent 33 colleges and universities across 21 states along with several younger players with amateur pedigree that includes a 15-year-old high school phenom.
Cedar Crest Golf Course located in South Dallas is an A.W. Tillinghast design built in 1919. As one of the most prolific golf course architects in the history of golf, legendary landmarks of golf like Baltusrol, Winged Foot, and Bethpage Black all Tillinghast designs have hosted numerous PGA Championships, Ryder Cup competitions, and US Opens. The legacy of Cedar Crest is steeped in tradition as it served as host for the 1927 PGA Championship won by Walter Hagen (The Father of Professional Golf), the 1954 USGA Public Links Championship, and notably the 1954 UGA Negro National Open won by Dr. Charles Sifford (the 1st African American to play on the PGA Tour). Earlier this year twelve-foot statues of Walter Hagen and Dr. Charles Sifford were installed in the newly created “Legends Plaza” overlooking the 18th green. A location such as Cedar Crest is of significance to the Southwest Showcase because the intersection of legacy and the future creates an instant environment of relevance and there is a reason why.
Ira Molayo understands the significance of what Cedar Crest Golf Course IS and WHERE it’s located. Molayo was introduced to the game at Cedar Crest by his mother, and the love of the game he developed became his career as a PGA Teaching Professional. Chuck Walker played collegiate golf at Hampton University and began a career in Dallas with the First Tee. The paths of each of these men directed by the game of golf became a vision in 2019 after Molayo was named General Manager of Cedar Crest Golf Course and created the I AM a Golfer Foundation of which Walker became the Executive Director. Molayo and Walker set out to become a catalyst for community renewal and preservation through programming, promotion and working with the City of Dallas to bring exposure to Cedar Crest golf course.
By doing the right thing, and becoming an example retired Southwest Airlines executive Dave Ridley joined Molayo and Walker and became an advocate for the foundation to create the type of public/private partnership underrepresented communities need to galvanize change. The I AM a Golfer foundation expanded its instructional programs for youth to include internship opportunities and provide college scholarships while doing the work to oversee funding from capital campaigns and the city to renovate the green complexes, install a short game complex, and renovate the property to provide a practice facility that makes Cedar Crest a premium site for local championships, and become the host for a marquee event- The Southwest Showcase.
Bringing together a diverse field of amateur golfers to participate in a made-for-TV event is a special experience for any of the participants, yet the I AM a Golfer foundation team recognized the need to enhance the moment in the off-course player development events. The pre-tournament gala for players and families created an atmosphere of unity for purpose prior to competition yet the feature event of the evening was the panel discussion co-hosted by Roger Steele and Will Lowery that featured Board Chairman Dave Ridley, Charlie Sifford Jr, and Shawn Spieth, father of PGA Pro Jordan Speith. Panelists answered questions directly from players and spoke clearly about moving forward even if the answer they received on their individual path included hearing “No”.
Make no mistake, The Southwest Showcase is about placing a spotlight on amateur golfers from diverse backgrounds displaying their skills on the grand stage provided by coverage on The Golf Channel, and for 3 days the women and men did just that. Round one featured the 21 women playing the late rounds, yet the later start didn’t keep Marley Franklin of Howard University by way of Los Angeles, CA from coming out hot. Franklin led after day one with a score of 67(-4). One stroke back was fellow Howard University teammate Kendall Jackson at 68. Jackson utilized her superior length to set the stage for potentially overpowering the numerous doglegs throughout the Cedar Crest layout to take dead aim at the small greens.
A 1st round score of 70(-1) by University of Tulsa redshirt Sophomore Allyn Stephens saw the Houston native tied for the lead on the back nine until 3 late bogeys which set the stage for a stellar matchup of Franklin, Jackson, Stephens on Day 2. The talent on the Howard University Women’s golf team is undeniable and well known, yet Allyn Stephens is a 2020 Notay Begay National Champion and finished T2nd in the fall collegiate season in her first event as a member of the Tulsa Hurricane with a game that features stellar accuracy with the driver followed by laser-like iron shots.
The player who made the Tuesday round unforgettable was Emma Henningsson of Jonkoping Sweden a Sophomore at The University of South Dakota by carding a 63(-8). Henningsson set the women’s’ low tournament record by going Birdie-Par-Birdie-ACE-Eagle-Birdie-Birdie on holes 12-18 that allowed those watching in Legends Plaza the see a ‘Heater’ unfold in real-time. Championship Wednesday provided a pairing of Stephens, Henningsson and Kingston, NY native and graduate of Delaware State University Amber Pennington.
A 2 shot lead on a course like Cedar Crest for any player is not a guarantee to end the day holding a trophy, however, Allyn Stephens operated with a calm focus and a game plan to utilize the precision she controls with every single club in the bag. Stephen’s most lethal weapon just may be her putter, because by the time she walked off 18 a score of 67 made her the inaugural Southwest Showcase Women’s Champion with a final tally of 9 strokes under par. A number of women made a run at Stephens over the 54 holes, however, the steady play of 15-year-old Shyla Brown a McKinney, TX native placed her in solo 2nd place, and a statement of “I’m coming!”
The Men’s field in Dallas was comprised of a collection of talent that may not generate immediate recognition; however, their accolades are impressive. Steve Kibare of Dalton State College, Jaden Saunders of Savannah State University, C.M. Mixon, a transfer to Howard University from the University of Louisville, KJ Ofahengaue of Utah Tech University, Christian Rodriquez of University of Texas San Antonio, and Kristopher Stiles of San Jose State University have racked up top 5s honors in 2023 conference championship play, wins or top 10 honors in DI or DII at the 2023 PGA Works Championship, 2023 DIII Team events, and Black College Coaches All-America recognition.
The men representing Howard University and Coach Sam Puryear, Jr. very well may be the best collection of talent a program has assembled, and the Bison men did not disappoint over the 3-day event. Day 1 saw Christian Rodriquez card a 65(-6) pouring in 8 birdies, which although impressive didn’t provide Rodriquez with much breathing room because multiple players were no more than 5 strokes off his pace, and 11 players finished the day at par or better in the 21-man field. Day 2 treated viewers to the introductions of Kristopher Stiles a Palmdale, CA native, and Joshua Siplin from Orlando, Fl who played alongside Rodriquez in the final group with Siplin carding a 2 under 69.
Not to be outdone by the electric play of Henningsson in the women’s field on Tuesday, Howard University’s Gregory Odom, Jr. led all men with a 66(-5) on a Cedar Crest setup that legitimately intended to challenge the field with pin placements that appeared to yield low scores but required detailed course management. The men’s field on Championship Wednesday was tasked with the same assignment-take down the leader Odom, Jr, with those closest threats Siplin and KJ Ofahengaue (a cousin of PGA Professional Tony Finau) no more than 2 strokes back.
Adding to the intrigue was Everett Whiten, Jr. and Marcus Smith Jr. of Howard that know the arsenal of Gregory Odom Jr. as teammates. The drama intensified when Odom Jr. made bogey on the opening hole and Ofahengaue went birdie-birdie on holes 4 & 5. A closing 9 holes of (-3) gave Odom Jr. the distance he needed to secure the championship by a 5-stroke margin while playing the type of golf at Cedar Crest forged through the experience the graduate student has gained by playing PGA venues multiple times in his collegiate career.
As the men’s and women’s champions were acknowledged the Southwest Showcase at Cedar Crest provided a stellar platform to display a firsthand view of the camaraderie amongst the participants as they share a commonality in the journey to enhance their craft. Each player and their family have set out seeking excellence in a sport that needs an event to grow the game through the fundamental relationships between men of diverse backgrounds working in partnership with private sector individuals who advocate for the benefit of all.
The exposure provided by the coverage makes one believe that the next version of the event will see players with the opportunities to become brand ambassadors for the clothing, shoe, and lifestyle brands in this age of Name Image and Likeness. By creating opportunity, investing in a community and a focus on the game, the Southwest Showcase at Cedar Crest has given golf a reason to look forward to what can be, and we are all better for it.
2023 Southwest Showcase at Cedar Crest
Final Results
Men
1 Gregory Odom Jr (Howard University) -12 201
T2 KJ Ofahengaue (Utah Tech University) -7 206
T2 Christian Rodriquez (University of Texas at San Antonio) -7 206
T2 Joshua Siplin (Howard University) -7 206
5 Marcus Smith Jr. (Howard University) -5 208
6 Everitt Whiten Jr. (Howard University) -4 209
7 Kristopher Stiles (San Jose State University) -3 210
T8 Steve Kibare (Dalton State College) -2 211
T8 Jzeke Dukes (Maryville University) -2 210
10 C.M. Mixon (Howard University) -1 212
11 Cam Jones (Chicago State University) +2 215
12 Patrick Jean-Pierre (Florida A&M University) +3 216
T13 Argyle Downes (Mercersburg Academy) +4 217
T13 Paul Kci Lindskog (Texas Southern University) +4 217
15 Henry Mwanza (Lincoln University of Missouri) +5 218
T16 Rondarius Walters (Prairie View A&M University) +6 219
T16 Patrick Mwendapole (Florida A&M University) +6 219
T16 Emmanuel Jakisa (Livingstone College) +6 219
19 Jaden Saunders (Savannah State University) +7 220
20 Trey Rusthoven (Central Michigan University) +10 223
21 Demar James (Kentucky State University) +15 228
Women
1 Allyn Stephens (University of Tulsa) -9 204
2 Shyla Brown (High School – Homeschool) +1 214
3 Amber Pennington (Delaware State University) +2 215
4 Emma Henningsson (University of South Dakota) +3 216
5 Marley Franklin (Howard University) +4 217
6 Christina Carroll (University of Delaware) +5 218
T7 Emily Mayne (Howard University) +6 219
T7 Kendall Jackson (Howard University) +6 219
9 Alaythia Hinds (Pleasant Grove High School) +7 220
10 Morgan Horrell (Howard University) +9 222
11 Breanna Preap (Grand Canyon University) +11 224
12 Serah Khanyereri (University of St. Thomas) +12 225
13 Amari Smith (University of North Georgia) +14 227
14 Kaiyuree Moodley (UNC Charlotte) +16 229
T15 Taylor Harvey (Delaware State University) +19 232
T15 Jayla Rogers (North Carolina AT&T State University) +19 232
17 Kennedi Lee (North Carolina AT&T State University) +20 233
18 Jaycee Rhodes (St. Catherine University) +26 239
19 Jalea Culliver (North Carolina Central University) +28 241
20 Koranis Boonmadee (Chicago State University) +33 246
21 Rayab Lee (Towson University) +35 248
