Gregory Jackson, Chair of The Johnny Committee, comprised of members of the Detroit Golf Club, shares details on how Club Members came together to create a purse for THE JOHN SHIPPEN Golf Tournament. Prior to now, THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational has never had a purse attached to it and the only benefit of winning was the chance to earn an exemption into The Rocket Mortgage Classic.
This year is different because of a committee of members at The Detroit Golf Club thought the tournament should have a prize structure. Members have raised upwards of $100,000 for prizes to be awarded to 10 golfers who placed after playing in the tournament a week ago.
THE JOHN SHIPPEN (TJS) was named after John Shippen, Jr, who was not only the first Black golf professional to play in the U.S. Open in 1896 but was also the first American-born golf professional. THE JOHN SHIPPEN is two events in one: THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational invites the top Black Men and Women golfers to compete for exemptions on the PGA TOUR and the LPGA. THE JOHN SHIPPEN Sports Business Summit is designed to create awareness of opportunities within the sports industry for high school and college students of color. Since the inception of
THE JOHN SHIPPEN in 2021:
– 85 Black golfers have competed (40 men, 45 women)
– 14 exemptions have been awarded (11 LPGA, 3 PGA TOUR)
– Grown to three standalone events in three markets
– Sadena Parks and Anita Uwadia made the cut and finished T-36 and the 2022 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational
– $320,000 donated fellowships, scholarships and local charities
