EntertainmentSlider

If Golf Announcers Were Black…

by AAGD Staff
written by AAGD Staff

The hilarious Cedric Antonio Kyles, better known by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is a well-known stand-up comedian who has traveled and toured with his notorious laugh-making jokes as an actor and television host. He is also an avid golfer and has played in celebrity tournaments across the nation. He’s hosted BET’s ComicView during the 1993–1994 season and Def Comedy Jam in 1995. Here, he jokes on TikTok about golf broadcasters and animates how differently their delivery would be if they were Black:

@timemachinesportz

If golf announcers were black 🤣 #fyp #bonelessankles #comedy #funny #viral #cedrictheentertainer #golf #tigerwoods #blacktiktok

♬ original sound – ❌🦴❌ [Time Machine Sportz]
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Pro Golfer Grayson Murray’s Cause of Death Revealed

by AAGD Staff
written by AAGD Staff

Pro golfer Grayson Murray, who was found dead in his Palm Beach Gardens, Florida home on Saturday, died from carbon monoxide poisoning. He was just 30 years old.

Murray’s death occurred a day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. Florida police reported that he had pumped deadly fumes into his home from the tailpipe of his Land Rover according to the Daily Mail.

A neighbor alerted authorities after hearing a carbon monoxide alarm ringing for an extended period. Police arrived at the residence shortly before 11 a.m. on Saturday, where they found Murray lying dead in his bedroom.

Murray had been open about his struggles with mental health. His parents confirmed on Sunday that their son had taken his own life. “We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone. It’s surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves, but that we also have to acknowledge it to the world. It’s a nightmare,” Murray’s parents said in a statement posted by the PGA Tour. “We have so many questions that have no answers. But one. Was Grayson loved? The answer is yes. By us, his brother Cameron, his sister Erica, all of his extended family, by his friends, by his fellow players and – it seems – by many of you who are reading this.”

“We would like to thank the PGA Tour and the entire world of golf for the outpouring of support. Life wasn’t always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he rests peacefully now.”

Murray gained attention in the golf world at a young age, making his first cut on the developmental Korn Ferry Tour at 16 and winning three consecutive Junior World Championships from 2006-08. He turned professional in 2015, winning two titles on the PGA Tour, including his first in 2017. This past season, he achieved a career-high ranking of 46th in the world.

Murray’s caddie, Jay Green, expressed his heartbreak over his friend’s death, saying, “He truly would do anything for anyone. He has the best family, and my heart goes out to them. We will all miss him deeply.”

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LONG DRIVE CHAMPION MAURICE ALLEN’S HISTORIC GOLF SHOT OVER NIAGARA FALLS MEMORIALIZED

by AAGD Staff
written by AAGD Staff

Niagara Parks Service Installed a Permanent Plaque on Goat Island to Commemorate Maurice Allen’s Historic Golf Shot Across Niagara Falls.

NIAGARA FALLS, NY (May 30, 2024) – Today in a special ceremony honoring long drive champion Maurice Allen, the Niagara Parks Service placed a plaque on Goat Island to commemorate Maurice Allen’s historic golf shot across Niagara Falls. 

“Every person has the desire to do something significant at some point in their lives, many of us accomplish that in some way shape or form,” said Maurice Allen. “Rarely are our accomplishments given this amount of attention and prestige. I’m grateful and honored to have something that I’ve done while on this journey of life that will be remembered for eternity. I hope that I can inspire young kids to go after their dreams no matter how wild they may seem and never give up.”

This is the 5th anniversary of Allen’s historic feat. On May 23, 2019 Allen became the first and only person to ever hit a golf ball across the falls as part of a SKRATCH video series to promote Niagara as a golf destination. Allen crossed the Falls on his 4th attempt with a ball that carried 393 yards and took a bounce that finished at 427 yards. 

The ball was hit from the visitor’s center on the Canadian side to the Niagara park on the American side. His 2nd attempt also crossed the falls but was not caught on camera.

Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino, NY State Parks Niagara Region Director Mark Mistretta, and Niagara Parks Chief Executive Officer David Adames attended the ceremony.

WATCH Maurice Allen’s historic shot across Niagara Falls on SKRATCH YouTube Channel (Credit: SKRATCH)

Link to images and video from the ceremony can be found HERE.

Of particular note, in 2005, PGA tour player John Daly attempted to complete the task with over 5000 onlookers at Table Rock to watch the Guinness World Record attempt. After over an hour of attempting, Daly was unsuccessful at crossing The Falls.

ABOUT MAURICE ALLEN:

Maurice Allen is a World Long Drive Champion, a former Guinness World Record holder for fastest ball speed, and he is the first and only person to hit a ball over Niagara Falls. Allen is president of Orlando Florida and is a Boys & Girls Club of America Ambassador and runs the MA 360 Foundation.

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Jim Beatty, President, Jim Beatty Golf Ventures and Founder, African American Golf EXPO and Forum Names Co-Chairs and Host Committee For 4th Annual EXPO

by AAGD NEWSWIRE
written by AAGD NEWSWIRE
GEORGE W.  LINLEY III MALACHI KNOWLES

Malachi Knowles, Founder and President, Inner City Youth Golfers, African American Golfers Hall of Fame and the African American Collegiate & Youth Golfers Hall of Fame and George W. Linley, III, Executive Director, Palm Beach County Sports Commission will serve as co-chairs of the host committee for the 4th Annual African American Golf Expo and Forum, August 24-27 in Palm Beach, Florida.

The members of the Palm Beach County Host Committee include Esmeralda H. Knowles, Inner City Youth Golf  Executive Director, Martha R. Clark, President, Fairview Golf Club, Gillian Constable, Project Director, Palm Beach County Sports Committee, James Taylor, Sports Development Director, Palm Beach County Sports Committee, Alisha K. Hall, Master Gardener, Riviera Beach Heights Community Garden, Riviera Beach Community Development Corporation.

The committee also include the Inner  City Youth Golfers’ volunteer faculty, Katongo Chama, Assistant Golf Director/Kaiser University , Tamara Dennard, Director of Health & Wellness, Chiquita Walker-Wright, Director of Mental Health, Gladys E. Harris, Director of Education and Vanesa Fields, Director of Stem.

The committee will serve as hosts for the attendees and guests of the 4th annual African American Golf EXPO and Forum, August 24 -27 being held in Palm Beach at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott, 4000 RCA Blvd, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. The committee will provide volunteers, tours, and transportation to interesting sites in the area.

The committee will also manage the EXPO’s community service project at the Riviera Beach Heights Community Garden.

For more information to register for the EXPO or to volunteer go to www.aagolfexpo.com or email [email protected]

About the EXPO

The mission of the EXPO  is to make African Americans aware of the jobs, careers, and  business opportunities in this $102 Billion industry. African Americans represent less than 3% of the industry.

The EXPO started in 2021 and has been held in Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC and Louisville, KY.  Since inception, about 2000 people have attended with an economic impact approaching  $2M. The EXPO founder and organizer is Jim Beatty Golf Ventures based in Omaha ,Nebraska.

The EXPO 2024 dates are Saturday, August 24 -Tuesday, August 27, in Palm Beach, Fl at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott, 4000 RCA Blvd. Palm Beach Gardens, FL. There will be a free clinic for beginner youth and adult golfers at the John Prince  Golf Learning Center

Website:  www.aagolfexpo.com, Information is updated daily

Cost: $99 to attend  exhibits, nightly networking sessions and the Tuesday awards luncheon. 

Free for those wanting to go to the Exhibits only. Adults 18 and over. Everyone must register. Non golfers are  especially welcome.  There will be over 50 exhibitors.

Sponsors: Golf Digest, American Junior Golf Association, PGA of America, The African American Golfer’s Digest, The PGA Tour Superstore, Sweet Home Alabama, The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Golf Pride, The American Golf Industry Coalition, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Palm Beach County Business Development Board, NCS International, National Association of Black Golf Merchandisers, Golf. My Future. My Game, National Golf Player Development Foundation, Dunlop Sports Americas, Fore Golf Collections, and others.

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H. Lyals Battle’s Legacy Enshrined in New Lawrenceville, New Jersey Atrium

by AAGD Staff
written by AAGD Staff
Lyales Battle speaks from the podium during the ceremony

The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ recently celebrated a momentous occasion with the dedication of the H. Lyals Battle ’67 and Darrell A. Fitzgerald ’68 Atrium, honoring its first Black students to attend and graduate from the institution. This tribute took place on May 20, 2024, as part of the grand opening of the Tsai Field House’s second phase—a sprawling 250,000 square foot facility that serves as an athletic, dining, and social hub on the Lawrenceville campus.

Henry Lyals Battle, a distinguished alumnus, was among those honored. Battle’s storied career includes roles such as President at NICH Enterprises, LLC, Chair of the Trustee Ministry at The People’s Community Baptist Church, and previous Program Manager positions at both the Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (WACIF) and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. Battle holds an MBA from Howard University and is an alumnus of Calvin Collidge High School and The Lawrenceville School.

The dedication ceremony was marked by standing ovations, heartfelt speeches, and deep expressions of gratitude. Attendees were given a preview of a mixed media installation crafted by Stuart Robertson ’11, the school’s Artist-in-Residence, alongside his students. This vibrant artwork rejuvenates the historic entrance of the renovated field house, symbolizing the diverse and dynamic experiences of the Lawrenceville community. The installation, paired with a comprehensive recounting of the school’s history of racial segregation and the pioneering efforts of its first Black students, signals a new chapter for Lawrenceville.

Two display cases of archival materials, including photographs, letters, and personal memorabilia, serve as a poignant reminder of the struggles and triumphs experienced by Battle and Fitzgerald. These displays honor not only their legacy but also those who facilitated their journey at Lawrenceville.

Addressing the attendees, benefactor Joseph Tsai emphasized the significance of the atrium. “These doors that open into the atrium of this handsome structure represent the courage of Lyals and Darrell at a very different time in the School’s history,” Tsai, a member of Lawrenceville’s Board of Trustees remarked. He highlighted the transformation from an era when the doors of a Lawrenceville education were closed to Black students to today’s inclusive environment.

Battle’s daughter, Lydina M Battle  shared on her father’s Facebook page, “I am beyond proud of my dad Henry Lyals Battle on his major accomplishment of being one of the 2 Black men to integrate the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey (he stayed on campus). Having a entrance to the sports complex named after you is BIG! You are a TRUE trailblazer! You are the definition of Black History and making a difference in the advancement of Black people. The Battle legacy will live on forever! Thank you Joseph Tsai for funding this project and making this happen for my dad.”

Henry Lyals Battle reflected on this progress, noting, “The door that opened to Darrell and I in 1964 has led to the acceptance of many other Black students to Lawrenceville.” He continued, “Now the door to Lawrenceville is wide open to give the opportunity to students of all ethnicities, and our School is better for it.” The event concluded with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, followed by a Benediction from Lawrenceville Chaplain Violet Lee. Guests were then invited to explore the new Battle-Fitzgerald Atrium, a space symbolizing progress, diversity, and community at The Lawrenceville School.

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Joelle Johnson, A Champion, Matches Lowest 54-Hole Score With 17 birdies at the PKBGT

by AAGD Staff
written by AAGD Staff
Joelle Johnson Wins (Photo: Instagram)

Two days ago, 17-year-old Joelle Johnson stood out from the rest of the players with an outstanding round! She birdied her last 6 holes for an impressive 67 to put her at a total of -7 for her first 36 holes, which lands her on top of the Bell leaderboard. The PKBGT Open Championship was played May 25-27at the Country Club of Salisbury and Joelle walked away from a weekend a first place winner along with matching the tournament’s lowest 54-hole score with 17 birdies!

Joelle’s Scores: Round 1:70 (-2). Round 2:67 (-5). Round 3:71 (-1). The standout player sits at third on the Bell National Rank with an average score of 74.64, and she has enjoyed two wins.

VIEW FINAL SCORES HERE

The Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour (PKBGT) is more than just a golf tournament. Established in 2007 by Girls Golf of America as a local tour and LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program in the Triad region of North Carolina, it started with a simple goal: to create better competitive opportunities for girls. By implementing innovative yardage-based divisions instead of traditional age-based formats, the tour emphasizes developing tournament experiences at each player’s own pace.

In 2021, the PKBGT boasts over 1,200 members and hosts more than 125 tournaments across 11 states on the East Coast and Midwest. PKBGT championship events are among the top 30 ranked girls’ golf events in the country. For more information, visit pkbgt.org.

The PKBGT provides a structured pathway that complements existing “grow the game” initiatives, enhancing current investments to build a sustainable growth model for girls’ golf and addressing the “missing link” in these investments. The PKBGT competition framework offers regional and national competitions for players ready for individual competition. By progressively adjusting yardage, difficulty, and competition levels, the tour guides player development, fostering improvement and self-confidence.

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CareerSlider

Apply Now for the 2024 Wadsworth Scholar Program. Opportunities for Students and Early-Career Professionals Interested In Golf Course Development

by AAGD Staff
written by AAGD Staff

Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Wadsworth Scholar Program. This prestigious program will select two college students of junior standing or higher, and two non-students with a keen interest and aptitude in golf course development. Recipients will receive a cash award and the opportunity to attend part of the ASGCA Annual Meeting in San Francisco this fall. (Pictured: 2022 Wadsworth Scholars Sydney Holt and Matt MacGillivray with ASGCA Foundation Past President Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA Fellow)

The ASGCA Foundation has updated the Wadsworth Scholar Program, thanks to increased funding from Wadsworth Golf Construction and the Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation. The $2,500 scholarship is now available to early-career professionals as well as current college students, along with the chance to participate in the ASGCA Annual Meeting.

According to the scholarship application, the program aims to encourage exploration of golf course architecture as a career path. By attending an ASGCA Annual Meeting, both students and professionals in the golf industry can gain valuable insights and connections. The ASGCA Foundation hopes to support aspiring professionals with scholarship funding and access to industry leaders, helping to foster future colleagues and employees.

The application for the 2024 Wadsworth Scholarship can be found HERE.

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Heard & Scene

Lexi Thompson Announces Retirement From LPGA Tour

by AAGD NEWSWIRE
written by AAGD NEWSWIRE

Lexi Thompson announced on Tuesday morning that this will be her last year competing on the LPGA Tour, as she plans to retire from professional golf at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

The year was 2007, and a 12-year-old, baby-faced Alexis Thompson arrived at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club to compete in her first major championship. She was a pre-teen sensation clad in a pink Titleist visor and a pair of ladybug earrings who was ready to try and make the cut in one of the most prestigious events in women’s golf.

And while she didn’t play the weekend that year in North Carolina, little did the golf world know just who that kid would become one day.

Now, seventeen years after that life-changing moment and still wearing those ladybug earrings, Lexi is an 11-time LPGA Tour winner, a major champion, a two-time Olympian, a six-time U.S. Solheim Cup team member and one of the most recognizable faces in golf.

And she announced on Tuesday morning that this will be her last year competing on the LPGA Tour, as she plans to retire from professional golf at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT LPGA.COM

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SliderTournaments

Past champions Chase Johnson and Wyatt Worthington II to headline elite field at THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational 

by AAGD Staff
written by AAGD Staff

Winner of the June 22-23 event at Detroit Golf Club will earn exemption into PGA Tour’s 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic (June 27-30); Final round on Sunday, June 23 will be open to fans with complimentary admission and parking 

DETROIT (May 29, 2024) – The stage is set for the fourth annual THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational, to be played June 22-23 at Detroit Golf Club. Tournament organizer Intersport announced today an outstanding 14-player field of top professional and amateur Black male golfers who will battle for an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic June 27-30. 

Notable players competing in the 36-hole stroke play tournament include defending champion Chase Johnson and 2022 winner Wyatt Worthington III. 

Johnson captured THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational last year by three strokes and earned a spot in the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic field. The Kent State University alum made the most of the opportunity by firing back-to-back rounds of 70 and securing his first PGA TOUR cut. It also marked the first time in the tournament’s three-year history that the JOHN SHIPPEN winner made it to the weekend.  

In 2022, Worthington II shot 73-65—-138 to win THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational and earn a spot in the Rocket Mortgage Classic field. The Gahanna, Ohio, resident has also qualified for the PGA Championship via his finishes at the PGA Club Professional Championship in 2016, 2022, 2023 and 2024.  

The final round of THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational will be open to fans, with complimentary admission. Complimentary parking will also be offered at University of Detroit Mercy, with shuttle service to and from Detroit Golf Club. No ticket is required. 

“THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational provides a platform to showcase some of the best professional and amateur men’s Black golfers in the game, and we’re thrilled to grant the winner an exemption to the PGA TOUR’s Rocket Mortgage Classic next month,” said Jason Langwell, Executive Director of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. “This event not only celebrates golf’s storied legacy, but also champions a future where diversity and excellence thrive on the course. We’re eagerly looking forward to welcoming such exceptional talent back to Detroit Golf Club and we welcome fans to join us to enjoy the final round on Sunday.” 

For the first time since its 2021 debut, THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational features prize purses for all three of its events this season: THE JOHN SHIPPEN Cognizant Cup, THE JOHN SHIPPEN Women’s Invitational and THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational. The top-three finishers and ties in each event will be awarded a share of the purse. The winner of THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational will take home $13,200 from a $22,000 purse. Second place will earn $6,600, while $2,200 will go to the third-place finisher.  

Players with Michigan ties in the field for THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational include Willie Mack III (Flint), Andrew Walker (Battle Creek, Michigan State) and Troy Taylor II (Michigan State). 

Mack III boasts 75 professional wins throughout his career. The Bethune Cookman University graduate played in the 2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic on a sponsor exemption and has appeared in seven PGA TOUR events.  

Walker, then only 14 years old, became the youngest Black golfer to play in the U.S. Amateur in 2014. The Michigan State University product tied for third at last year’s THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational. 

Taylor II was second at last year’s SHIPPEN event. The Ohio native and Michigan State graduate has played in the tournament each year since its debut in 2021. 

Nyasha Mauchaza, a Korn Ferry Tour member and native of Harare, Zimbabwe who played college golf at Towson, is the SHIPPEN field for the first time. 

Intersport, a leading Chicago-based sports marketing and media agency, partnered with Woods & Watts Effect in 2021 to create THE JOHN SHIPPEN – a series of competitions created to provide playing opportunities on the LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR for the nation’s top Black women and men golfers. THE JOHN SHIPPEN Sports Business Summit also will be held for the fourth year to create awareness about employment opportunities within the business of sports. 

THE JOHN SHIPPEN was created to identify historical barriers, expand Black representation in golf, and address the lack of Black representation in business and leadership roles within the golf and larger sports industry for people of color. 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 about the tremendously strong field of eleven professionals and three amateurs that will be competing in THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational once again this summer,” said Sommer Woods, tournament lead for THE JOHN SHIPPEN. “This event continues to provide opportunities for many of the best Black men’s golfers to showcase their talents and to earn a spot in the PGA TOUR’s Rocket Mortgage Classic. We’re appreciative of the support that Rocket Mortgage has put behind THE JOHN SHIPPEN since the very beginning.” 

Since 2021, 90 of the nation’s best Black women and men golfers have competed in THE JOHN SHIPPEN. THE JOHN SHIPPEN has awarded 16 playing opportunities on the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour, and donated $340,000 to local charities, scholarships and fellowships. SHIPPEN alumni continue to see success beyond the National Invitational through player-earned memberships on the PGA TOUR Champions, PGA TOUR Americas and Ladies European Tours.  

Last year was another historic year for THE JOHN SHIPPEN, as, for the first time in the event’s history, the Men’s Invitational champion, Johnson, made the cut at the PGA TOUR’s Rocket Mortgage Classic.  

For updated information on THE JOHN SHIPPEN, please visit www.TheJohnShippen.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@TheJohnShippen) and Twitter (@TheJShippen). For information about sponsorship opportunities or how to get involved, please email us at [email protected]. 

THE JOHN SHIPPEN Men’s Invitational 

2024 Player Field 

(Players Listed in Alphabetical Order) 

JERRIS BAKER  

AGE: 20 

STATUS: Amateur  

COLLEGE: Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama 

RESIDENCE: Detroit 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       2024 SIAC Freshman of the Year 

·       2024 SIAC Conference Champion 

JOHN HAKIZIMANA  

AGE: 33 

STATUS: Professional  

COLLEGE: Ecole Technique Muhazi, Kigali Rwanda 

RESIDENCE: Hobe Sound, Florida 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational at Torrey Pines (T2) 

·       The Jim Thorpe Invitational & Pro Am – Feb 16/17/18 (T5) 

·       2024 Minor League Golf Tour 

·       Winter Abacoa Classic – T27  

·       Coral Springs Major, I Tune Up – T17 

KEVIN HALL  

AGE: 41 

STATUS: Professional  

COLLEGE: Ohio State University 

RESIDENCE: Cincinnati 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       Three-time THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational competitor (2021–2023) 

·       Finished second on 2023 APGA Season Points list 

·       2004 Big Ten Individual Stroke Play Champion                  

·       Earned conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour for the 2018 season 

·       Six-time APGA Tour winner  

MICHAEL HERRERA  

AGE: 26 

STATUS: Professional 

COLLEGE: Riverside City College 

RESIDENCE: Los Angeles 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       Three-time THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational competitor (2021–2023)     

·       2023 PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open competitor  

·       2023 APGA Butterfield Bermuda Invitational Champion 

·       2024 APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational Champion 
  

CHASE JOHNSON  

AGE: 28 

STATUS: Professional  

COLLEGE: Kent State University 

RESIDENCE: Berberton, Florida 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       Three-time THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational competitor (202 –2023)      

·       2023 THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational champion 

·       2024 PGA TOUR Genesis Invitational – T51 

·       2023 PGA TOUR Rocket Mortgage Classic – T64 

·       2023 PGA TOUR World Wide Technology Championship – T69 

WILLIE MACK III  

AGE: 35 

STATUS: Professional  

COLLEGE: Bethune-Cookman University 

RESIDENCE: Flint, Michigan 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       Three-time THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational competitor (2021–2023) 

·       2023 Korn Ferry Tour member  

·       2021 PGA TOUR John Deere Classic – T64 

·       2021 PGA TOUR Rocket Mortgage Classic – T71 

·       80 professional wins  

GREG ODOM JR.  

AGE: 23 

STATUS: Professional  

COLLEGE: Howard University 

RESIDENCE: Memphis, Tenessee 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       Turned professional at conclusion of spring collegiate season 

·       American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team  

·       2023 Ben Hogan Award Watch List  

·       Leader in  2023-24 Bridgestone APGA Collegiate ranking (PGA TOUR’s Pathway to Progression 

·       #1 African-American player according to World Amateur Golf Ranking  

·       Collegiate Tournament Wins   

o   2021 PGA Works D1 Collegiate Championship   

o   2022 MEAC Championship   

o   2022 PGA Works D1 Collegiate Championship   

o   2022 River Run Collegiate   

o   2022 USF Howard Intercollegiate  

o   2023 Inaugural Southwest Airlines Showcase 

o   2024 Princeton Invitational 
 

NYASHA MAUCHAZA  

AGE: 36 

STATUS: Professional  

COLLEGE: Towson University 

RESIDENCE: Port St. Lucie, Florida 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       2024 Korn Ferry Tour Member 

·       From Zibabwe. Family moved to U.S. in 2005. 

QUINN RILEY  

AGE: 24 

STATUS: Professional  

COLLEGE: Duke University 

RESIDENCE: Raleigh, North Carolina 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       Two-time THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational competitor (2022–2023) 

·       Three PGA TOUR starts (John Deere Classic, Shriners Children’s Open, Wells Fargo Championship) 

·       2024 PGA Americas member 

MARCUS SMITH  

AGE: 22 

STATUS: Amateur 

COLLEGE: Howard University 

RESIDENCE: Rockford, Illinois 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       One collegiate win 

·       Two collegiate top 10s 

·       Top 10 at Mountaineer Invitational 2021 

·       T6 at Boilermaker Invitational 2022 

·       T5 at APGA Tour @ TPC Deere Run 2022 

·       T3 & Low Amateur in the 73rd Illinois Open Championship 2022 

·       T2 at USF-Howard Intercollegiate 2022 

·       T3 at Carpet Bagger Intercollegiate 2023 

·       T6 at NEC Conference Championship 

TROY TAYLOR II 

AGE: 24 

STATUS: Professional  

COLLEGE: Michigan State University 

RESIDENCE: Westerville, Ohio 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       Three-time THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational competitor (2021–2023) 

·       One Korn Ferry Tour start 

·       2024 Florida Professional Tour Annual Ocala Open T19 

·       2024 Florida Professional Tour Wildwood Open T11 

MATTHEW VITAL  

AGE: 18 

STATUS: Amateur  

COLLEGE: Temple University 

RESIDENCE: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       2023 Pennsylvania State Junior Amateur Champion 

·       2019 Drive Chip and Putt National Champion (Boys 12-13) 

TRAVON WILLIS  

AGE: 23 

STATUS:  Amateur 

COLLEGE: Virginia Union University 

RESIDENCE: Indian Trail, North Carolina 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       2024 CIAA Conference champion           

·       2024 CIAA Golfer of the year 

·       Four-time All-CIAA 

·       2024 Bud Kivett Invitational T2 

WYATT WORTHINGTON II  

AGE: 37 

STATUS: Professional  

COLLEGE: Methodist University 

RESIDENCE: Columbus, Ohio 

HIGHLIGHTS: 

·       Three-time THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational competitor (2021–2023)     

·       2022 THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational Champion 

·       Four-time PGA Championship competitor  

·       2022 PGA TOUR Rocket Mortgage Classic competitor  

·       Winner of TPC Las Vegas APGA 2023 

### 

About Intersport 
Since 1985, Intersport has been an award-winning innovator and leader in creating sports, lifestyle, culinary, and entertainment-based marketing platforms. With expertise in Sponsorship Consulting, Experiential Marketing, Hospitality, Customer Engagement, Content Marketing, Productions, and Sports Properties, this Chicago-based Marketing & Media Solutions Company helps its clients create ideas, content, and experiences that attract and engage passionate audiences. To learn more about Intersport, visit www.intersport.global, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. 

About Woods & Watts Effect 

Woods & Watts Effect is an equity and inclusion consulting firm of transformation engineers, co-founded by Sommer Woods and Michele Lewis Watts, Ph.D. They are a solutions-driven team that adeptly designs programs that assess a company’s strengths and areas for improvement relative to inclusion and social equity. Woods & Watts Effect provides innovative thinking, engagement, and execution. They produce viable, actionable solutions for sustainable change through a bold, non-traditional, and engaging approach. More information is available at WoodsWattsEffect.com. 

About Rocket Mortgage 

Detroit-based Rocket Mortgage is the largest retail mortgage lender and is a part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT). 

The lender enables the American Dream of homeownership and financial freedom through its obsession with an industry-leading, digital-driven client experience. In late 2015, it introduced the first fully digital, completely online mortgage experience. Since its founding in 1985, Rocket Mortgage has closed more than $1.7 trillion of mortgage volume across all 50 states. 

J.D. Power has ranked Rocket Mortgage #1 in client satisfaction for both primary mortgage origination and servicing 21 times – the most of any mortgage lender. Rocket Companies, Rocket Mortgage’s parent company, has placed in the top third of Fortune’s list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” the list for 21 consecutive years. 

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Christina Ricci’s “More Pars Golf Camp” Brings Out Golfers On Memorial Day Weekend

by Gladys Lee
written by Gladys Lee
Junior Girls (left to right):
Maia Dabney, Lauren Liddell, Coach Gladys Lee, Kennedi Lee and Lauren Patterson.

Hello Confidants , Constituents and Comrades!

I hope everyone had a wonderful safe Memorial weekend.  

I want to express my sincere gratitude to Christina Ricci, a PGA, LPGA, and TPI Level 3 certified professional golf coach, for her dedicated service. I personally she is one of the BEST Golf Teaching Professionals in the world. Also, my thanks to Deb Vangelow, Sandy LaBauve, Dr. Debbie Crews, and Master Professional Oneda Castillo. 

August 2017 (7 years ago) I introduced my 13 and 14-year-old LPGA USGA Girls ( Roaring Lambs Jr Golfers) to Christina via her authored first books, “A Girls On Course Survival Guide to Golf“. All of her books and teaching aids have been a part of my teaching repertoire for almost a decade for all my students, juniors and adults/(male and female).

The ladies holding their graduation certificates.

All the young ladies graduated high school receiving Academic and Golf scholarships. I can proudly say they are now Juniors and Seniors in College. Kennedi continues her career as a golfer playing for North Carolina AT&T and interning at Cedar Crest  Golf Course in DallasTexas. She graduates college in December and will continue pursuing her dream in the wonderful world of golf.

Christina Ricci demonstrates to participants
Ladies enjoying a meal together

This past Memorial Holiday weekend, May 26 and 27, in Dallas Texas, six women had the privilege to personally attend a Christina Ricci’s “More Pars Golf Camp”! Two days of extensive training —that I know will improve their golf skills, their practice, their physical bodies in addition to training their minds! What a blessing to be able to have hands on experience with a Pro’s Pro.

Christina Ricci (far left) leads the clinic and shares information with participants.

Congratulations to the 2024 Memorial Weekend Christina Ricci “More Pars Golf Camp” Graduates: Rita Raines, Janet Whitaker, Diane Sladek, Jeanie Phillip, Connie Taylor, and Sharon Dreger .

Thanks to Golf Club of Dallas OCBF entire staff for making the experience a GREAT Success.

Remember, “Trust the Truth. Life can make you bitter, or life can make you better!!!

My Best !
Gladys Lee, LPGA (Class A)

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MLB integrates Negro League statistics into all-time record book with Josh Gibson now career batting average leader

by AAGD Staff
written by AAGD Staff
MLB to add Negro Leagues Baseball statistics to records (photo: YouTube)


Major League Baseball (MLB) has integrated the statistics of former Negro Leagues players into its historical records, resulting in legendary leaders like Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb being replaced by players who were excluded from MLB fields due to segregation, according to a report released by CNN today.

Josh Gibson, one of the greatest sluggers in Negro Leagues history, is now recognized as MLB’s all-time career leader in batting average at .372, surpassing Ty Cobb’s .367. Gibson also overtakes Babe Ruth in career slugging percentage according to the MLB website.

“We are proud that the official historical record now includes the players of the Negro Leagues,” said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. “This initiative ensures future generations of fans have access to the statistics and milestones of all those who made the Negro Leagues possible. Their accomplishments on the field will be a gateway to broader learning about this triumph in American history and the path that led to Jackie Robinson’s 1947 Dodger debut.”

Josh Gibson, inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, is acknowledged by his great-grandson Sean Gibson, who told ABC’s Good Morning America, “We always considered Josh Gibson a major leaguer anyway. It’s just now that he is recognized in the Major League Baseball stats.”

Gibson’s Hall of Fame plaque states he “hit almost 800 home runs in league and independent baseball” during his 17-year career, although most of these homers came in exhibitions rather than league-sanctioned games.

Negro League Museum president Bob Kendrick remarked to Yahoo Sports, “It’s a big day. This result stems from the dedication of incredible historians and researchers who achieved what many thought impossible.”

Over 2,300 Negro Leagues players from 1920-1948, including Hall of Famer Willie Mays, have been added to the MLB database. This update also adjusts the career statistics of other Hall of Famers like Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, and Minnie Miñoso to reflect their Negro Leagues accomplishments. Robinson’s career hits increase from 1,518 to 1,567, Paige’s career wins from 28 to 125, and Miñoso’s hits surpass the 2,000 mark to 2,113.

This inclusion follows MLB’s December 2020 recognition of the Negro Leagues as equivalent to the major leagues, which required time to review how this would impact MLB records due to the need to differentiate between league-sanctioned games and exhibitions.

“Shortened Negro League schedules, interspersed with revenue-raising exhibition games, were born of MLB’s exclusionary practices,” said MLB historian John Thorn. “To deny the best Black players of the era their rightful place among all-time leaders would be a double penalty.”

Committee member Larry Lester added, “Stories, folklore, and embellished truths have long been part of the Negro Leagues narrative. Now our dialogues can be quantified and qualified to support the authentic greatness of these athletes. Every fan should welcome this statistical restitution towards social reparation.”

In 2020, MLB acknowledged it was “correcting a longtime oversight” by elevating the status of the Negro Leagues, which included seven leagues and about 3,400 Black and Latino players from 1920 to 1948.

Scott Simkus, one of the researchers behind the Seamheads Negro Leagues Database, said, “Many people have heard of Martin Dihigo, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige. But what about the thousands of other men who played in the Negro Leagues from 1920 to 1948? They’re finally being recognized as major league caliber ballplayers.”

Larry Lester, co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, commented on the delayed recognition, “It’s sad this great history has been kept from them.” Bob Kendrick added that the recognition “serves as historical validation for those who had been shunned from the Major Leagues and had the foresight and courage to create their own league that helped change the game and our country, too.”

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Bogey Boyz Golf Club’s “Mancation #19” Sponsored by Bucka Fogey Sports, LLC A Spirited Event

by AAGD NEWSWIRE
written by AAGD NEWSWIRE

The Bogey Boyz Golf Club’s highly anticipated “Mancation #19” took place from May 16-20, 2024, in the historic and picturesque Williamsburg, Virginia. Sponsored by Bucka Fogey Sports, LLC, this year’s event drew an impressive 110 members from over 18 states, creating a vibrant and diverse gathering of golf enthusiasts.

A Memorable Stay and Challenging Courses

The club enjoyed their stay at the luxurious Green Springs Resort, offering a perfect blend of comfort and convenience. The golfing commenced with a practice round at the Golden Horseshoe’s Green Course, setting the stage for the competitive days ahead. The official events kicked off with the “Big Skinz” round at Williamsburg National Golf Club, followed by the Team Shamble and GameDay Events at Ford’s Colony Black Heath. The climactic Championship Round took place at the prestigious Golden Horseshoe’s Gold Course, known for its challenging layout and stunning scenery.

Evenings were filled with camaraderie and celebration, beginning with an Opening Ceremony and Past Champions Reception. Participants relished the unique “Cigars Under the Stars” event, and a Cigar Carnival at Dawg Houz Cigars provided a delightful experience for cigar aficionados. Nightly fellowship allowed members to unwind and share stories, culminating in a grand Awards Banquet and Ceremony at the Golden Corral restaurant.

This year’s event held special significance as it honored the memory of Dr. Anthony T. Womack, affectionately known as “Wojamm,” who recently lost his battle with cancer. His legacy was celebrated throughout the event, underscoring the tight-knit community spirit of the Bogey Boyz Golf Club.

Al Quarles, Founder, Bogey Boyz Golf

The competition was fierce across the club’s four flights, each named in memory of former club members. Scott DeLoatch successfully defended his title as Club Champion, receiving the coveted Navy Blazer. Reggie Guyton was crowned Senior Champion, donning the traditional Gray Blazer. Mark Buckner emerged victorious in the B Flight, while Barry Crocker took home the top prize in the C Flight. Each winner was celebrated for their skill, determination, and sportsmanship.

Looking Forward

As the Bogey Boyz Golf Club looks ahead to their 20th anniversary, plans are already underway to make next year’s event even grander, with a goal of hosting 120 golfers. The milestone celebration promises to be a memorable chapter in the club’s storied history.

For more information and to be added to the guest list for the 20th-anniversary event, please email [email protected] or [email protected]. Stay connected by visiting the Bogey Boyz Golf group on Facebook and checking out www.BuckaFogey.com.

Join us next year for another unforgettable Mancation with the Bogey Boyz Golf Club, where tradition, friendship, and the love of golf come together in perfect harmony.

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