THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational hosts the nation’s top Black women and men golfers to compete for five exemptions into LPGA and PGA TOUR events
THE JOHN SHIPPEN Cognizant Cup will be played May 8 at Upper Montclair Country Club in New Jersey to provide an exemption into LPGA’s Cognizant Founders Cup
· Women’s field plays June 6-7 at Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids for exemptions into the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give and Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational
· Men’s field plays June 24-25 at Detroit Golf Club for an exemption into the Rocket Mortgage Classic
DETROIT (March 16, 2023) – Intersport has announced the 2023 schedule for THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational – a series of competitions created to provide playing opportunities on the PGA TOUR and LPGA for the nation’s top Black men and women golfers. THE JOHN SHIPPEN Sports Business Summit will also be held for the third time to address the lack of representation in business and leadership roles within the business of sports for people of color.
Now in its third year, THE JOHN SHIPPEN has hosted 76 Black golfers, awarded nine playing opportunities on the business of sports and LPGA and donated $320,000 to local charities, scholarships and fellowships. In 2022, SHIPPEN alumni achieved success beyond the National Invitational. Sadena Parks and Anita Uwadia made the cut and finished T-36 at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, and Willie Mack III and Tim O’Neal earned respective memberships on the Korn Ferry TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions via the fall qualifying school (Q-School).
The events are named after John Shippen, Jr., who was both the first American-born golf professional and the country’s first Black golf professional.
“We are excited to continue to host the nation’s top Black golfers and further the momentum generated in the first two years of THE JOHN SHIPPEN, which saw two players make the cut and two more earn membership on the Korn Ferry TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions. We want to build on the impact of the events as we look to create more year-round exposure and Black representation in golf,” said Jason Langwell, Executive Vice President of Intersport and the Executive Director of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. “The Intersport and Rocket Mortgage teams are passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion, and we partner with organizations committed to making a difference with their mission. We’re thrilled to be able to provide these talented athletes and individuals with the standalone platforms they deserve — which aims to break barriers for talented Black golfers and aspiring business professionals.”
THE JOHN SHIPPEN Cognizant Cup has a new name and location, taking place May 8 at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, New Jersey. The women’s contest of THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational will be held June 6–7 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the men’s competition of THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Golf Invitational will take place June 24-25 at Detroit Golf Club.
THE JOHN SHIPPEN Cognizant Cup is an 18-hole stroke play competition taking place May 8 at Upper Montclair Country Club, the host venue for the LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup. The winner of the event will be awarded an exemption into the LPGA’s Cognizant Founders Cup (May 11-May 14), marking a continuation of Cognizant’s commitment to supporting equal opportunity and diversity in the game of golf and beyond.
“This is Cognizant’s third year as a part of the THE JOHN SHIPPEN Cognizant Cup,” said Shameka Young, Global Head, Diversity and Inclusion at Cognizant. “We’re passionate about supporting this influential event and the role it plays in broadening representation in golf. We are pleased to provide an additional on-ramp to more Black female golfers qualifying for LPGA tournament play. Cognizant is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion both in technology and sports.”
The Women’s Invitational will return to its 2022 location. The 36-hole stroke play competition will be held June 6-7 at Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the home of the Meijer LPGA Classic. The winner of the event will earn an exemption into the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give (June 15–18), as well as an exemption into the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, the LPGA tournament scheduled for July 19– 22 in Midland, Michigan. The SHIPPEN winner will choose a partner to compete alongside them in the Dow GLBI, which is a two-player team event. The 2022 Women’s Invitational Champion, Sadena Parks, chose 2021 winner Anita Uwadia to play alongside her in the team competition, and the pair went on to make the cut and finish T-36 – making them the first SHIPPEN champions to make a cut resulting from THE JOHN SHIPPEN.
“We’re excited to see our partner Blythefield Country Club host the women’s division of THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Golf Invitational in Grand Rapids again this year,” said Cathy Cooper, Executive Director of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. “The Meijer LPGA Classic shares this event’s commitment to diversity and inclusion aimed at empowering underrepresented groups on the golf course and in our communities across the Midwest. We’re pleased to extend the winner an exemption into the Meijer LPGA Classic and see her back on the course this June.”
The men’s portion of THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational presented by Rocket Mortgage will take place at Detroit Golf Club June 24–25. Participants will compete in a 36-hole stroke play competition, and the winner will once again be awarded an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s Rocket Mortgage Classic (June 29 – July 2).
THE JOHN SHIPPEN was also created to address the lack of representation in business and leadership roles in golf and across professional sports for people of color. In 2022, THE JOHN SHIPPEN Sports Business Summit paired 350 high school and college students of color with sports industry leaders including representatives from CDW, the Detroit Pistons, the Detroit Lions, Trap Golf and Pensole Lewis College for a day of educational programming centered around the business of sports. Dates and details surrounding THE JOHN SHIPPEN Sports Business Summit in Detroit will be announced in the near future.
For updated information on THE JOHN SHIPPEN, please visit www.TheJohnShippen.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram (@TheJohnShippen) and on Twitter (@TheJShippen). For information about sponsorship opportunities or how to get involved, email THEJOHNSHIPPEN@intersportnet.com.
