Otis Worthy shot his 13th Hole-in-One on Sunday, March 20, 2022, at Sunset Hills Golf Course in Charlotte, North Carolina. Worthy made the shot on Hole #6 using a Callaway 7 Iron club and playing a Titleist Ball. His playing partners were Dock Mangrum, Sr, and Jamel Austin. Congratulations Otis!
Sunday- March 20, 2022, Cleveland Country Club, Shelby, North Carolina
Blue Tees Yards 6443, Slope 71.70/134
White Tees Yard 5988, slope 69.70/129
Green Tees Yard 5635, Slope 67.70/123
Gold Tees Yard 5209, Slope64.10/114
Gold Tees Yard Ladies 5209, Slope 70.70/127
Red tees Yard 4803, Slope 63.90/115
Par 72
20 Players
Total 950 Points
Closest to Pins
#3 Raymond Mitchell 50 Points
#11 John Doer 50 Points
#17 Mitchell Smith-Bey 50 Points
Total 150 Points
Team Skins
#3 Jeff Winchester-James “Slim” Bouler (Birdie) 162 Points
#8 Chris Ingram-Mitchell Smith-Bey (Birdie) 162 Points
#11 John Doer-Larry Watkins (Birdie) 162 Points
#13 Chris Ingram-Mitchell Smith-Bey (Birdie) 162 Points
Total 648 Points
Total-Total 1748 Points
Held March 18-20, 202 at Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston, TX. Alabama’s Polly Mack took home the individual title, finishing the regional with a 12-under 204, four strokes better than Wake Forest‘s Rachel Kuehn and Texas A&M’s Jennie Park, who finished tied for second at 8-under 208.
“What a final round at the Mack Champ Invitational! Alona Avery and KJ Ofahengaue battled brutal winds at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston to take home the trophies. We know that Mack is smiling down on us today, and Cameron summed it up nicely when asked what his grandfather would have thought of the tournament.
“He’d be laughing, cracking up. He’d be so excited. I don’t think he ever would have dreamed of anything like this happening in his name. For us to continue his legacy and to create a fun environment for the kids to come enjoy and hang out, it’s just awesome to see.”
View full leaderboard at https://mackchampinvitational.com/live/
OMAHA, NE: Jim Beatty, Founder of the African American Golf Expo and Forum and President of Jim Beatty Golf Ventures located in Omaha, NE, has named Ashaunta Epps and Ronnie Bryant as Honorary Co-chairs for the 2nd annual African American Golf Expo and Forum which will be held August 27-31, 2022 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa in Concord, NC.
Ashaunta Epps, a native of Kingstree, SC is the CEO and Founder of the Charlotte, NC-based organization, A Perfect Swing, Inc. whose mission is to help individuals use golf as a networking tool to advance in their careers. The mission of the 501(c)3 nonprofit youth Foundation is to introduce golf as a low-impact alternative sport while providing youth development workshops and events to enhance their leadership, communication, and networking skills. Using strategic brand management, she established A Perfect Swing as a footprint in the golf and networking arena.
Ashaunta’s numerous achievements include:
Ashaunta is an African American Golfers Hall of Fame Inductee and has been recognized nationally as an Outstanding Leader in Golf by the African American Golfer’s Digest. She’s won countless local and national golf competitions including the longest drive and low gross honors in the Black Enterprise Magazine Golf and Tennis Challenge two years in a row at PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Ashaunta is the featured instructor for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Clinics show, Let’s Talk Golf with Ashaunta, a series of informational, with a bit of entertainment, golf videos. She was an Instructor for the LPGA Leadership Academy, the LPGA Golf Academy, and serves as an LPGA/USGA Girls Golf Site Director and PGA Jr. League Captain.
Ashaunta holds a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Computer Science and works as a Modern Service Management Consultant for Microsoft Corporation.
Ashaunta is also the Chief Operating Officer for The Coalition for Teens Helping Teens and Vice President for Polished Pearls Leadership Seminars for Teen Girls. She is a member of the Charlotte Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Charlotte Chapter of National Black MBA Association, the Women in Technology International (WITI), and Home and Foreign Mission Development Center
She is dedicated to giving back to her community through the sponsorship of youth golf days, Back-to-School supplies drives, mentoring high school athletes, tutoring, and serving in various community service projects.
Ronnie L. Bryant is Founder and Lead Consultant at Ronnie L. Bryant, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in executive coaching, organizational management, and board development and training for top-level corporate and not-for-profit managers. Ronnie created the company in 2017 to help executives improve their leadership skills and business acumen to operate organizations while maintaining a competitive edge in diverse, evolving domestic and global marketplaces.
Prior to forming Ronnie L. Bryant, LLC, Ronnie served as President & CEO of Charlotte Regional Partnership in North Carolina, for fifteen years. Ronnie and his team marketed the sixteen-county region to domestic and global companies as the premier site for expansion and relocation. He created strategic partnerships and brokered viable collaborations, which earned him a national reputation for creating and implementing effective economic development programs.
Ronnie’s leadership in economic development spans thirty-five years, including executive positions at Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce (Louisiana), St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association (Missouri), and Pittsburgh Regional Alliance (Pennsylvania). Ronnie quickly became one of the nation’s most sought-after economic developers, piquing the interests of Charlotte business leaders, who hired him to lead Charlotte Regional Partnership in 2005.
Ronnie currently serves as on the board of directors for The American Leadership Forum, Aspire Community Capital, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, Charlotte City Club; Johnson C. Smith University; The Bollinger Foundation (Washington, D.C.); The Institute for Work and the Economy (Illinois); The International Economic Development Council. He is a former board member for The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Pittsburgh Branch.
Ronnie is a past chairman for the International Economic Development Council and a member of the Southern Economic Developers Council. He is a former dean and a faculty member for the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute, an adjunct professor for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He serves as a Visiting Lecturer at Cornell University’s Institute for Public Affairs.
Ronnie earned a B.S. in business management from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. He was a fellow at The Center for Intentional Leadership®, Center for Creative Leadership, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, and University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. Ronnie is a recipient of the American Economic Development Council’s Robert B. Cassell Leadership Award.
Throughout his career, Ronnie has garnered national recognition and top industry ranking for his leadership by Site Selection magazine, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Charlotte Magazine. He is an acclaimed contributor to and global lecturer in economic development marketing, organizational governance, strategic management, and current trends in civic and community engagements. His book, “Driving from the Backseat – Tips for Surviving as a Not-for-Profit CEO”, was released in April 2019.
JIM BEATTY GOLF VENTURES LLC is an Omaha, Nebraska golf promotion and management firm engaged in developing and producing golf-related venues and forums focused on unique markets. Activities include tournament planning, executive forums, economic development meetings, and other specialized opportunities to promote the industry and the game of golf.
The mission of the AFRICAN AMERICAN GOLF EXPO AND FORUM is to promote the recreational, business and career opportunities for African Americans in the $84 billion golf industry. The inaugural EXPO was held August 21-24, 2021 in Marietta, GA (near Atlanta), and attracted 750 attendees with engaging activities and breakout sessions. It had an economic impact of $700,000. The EXPO is supported by golf industry leaders such as PGA of America, PGA Tour, LPGA, USGA, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA Tour Superstore, ClubCorp, and Troon.
Go to www.aagolfexpo.com for more information about the Expo.
Although African Americans were barred from membership at many of the United States’ most prestigious golf courses until well into the 20th century, they have always had a presence on golf courses nationwide. Many learned to play golf while serving as caddies, honing their golf game during their days off. While some of the golfers on this list aren’t well-known, they made significant contributions to the sport, including inventing the modern golf tee, and helping to desegregate the sport.
When people think of African Americans and golf, Tiger Woods often comes to mind. After all, few golfers, of any race, have done more to bring golf into the mainstream than Woods. During his prime, golf odds often listed Tiger Woods as a favorite. As the 2022 Masters approaches, many wonder if Tiger could pull off a stunning comeback and take home the green jacket like he did in the year 2019. It’s still unclear whether he’ll compete this year, but all eyes will be on him if he does.
Whether or not Tiger returns for another appearance at the Masters, he’ll go down in history as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, golfers of all time. During his professional career, he’s amassed 15 major championship victories, and 81 PGA tour wins, while introducing countless people to the sport.
The inventor of the modern golf tee was a faculty member at Harvard, and a dentist, who played golf in his free time in a field near his home in Arlington, Massachusetts. In 1899, Grant created the tee using wood capped with a latex resin that dentists used for root canals. His invention, a small wooden stand used to support a golf ball, is still used on golf courses worldwide.
Sifford was the first African American to play on the PGA tour, demonstrating a mastery of the game long before Tiger Woods became a household name. In recognition of his achievements, Sifford was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004 and posthumously received the Old Tom Morris Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association—their most prestigious award. President Barack Obama awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014.
Known as the “Jackie Robinson of golf,” Sifford learned the game as a caddie in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1948 he began his career, competing in all-Black tournaments, winning the National Negro Open six times. He made history when he officially became part of the PGA tour in 1961.
While Gibson is best known as the first African American to win a Grand Slam title in Tennis, she was also the first Black golfer in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). Although there’s not a lot of information about Gibson’s time in the LPGA, we do know she participated in 171 events from 1963 to 1877. Gibson didn’t win any golf tournaments, and compared to her tennis career, her golf career may seem uninspiring. However, she broke barriers at a time when African Americans weren’t welcome on many of the nation’s golf courses.
In 1975, Elder became the first African American to participate in the Masters Tournament, crossing the color line to play at Augusta. He endured death threats when it became known he’d play, but he persevered with style and courage. Although Elder didn’t make the cut that year, he didn’t let that stop him. He continued to leave his mark on the game with four wins on the PGA tour and eight wins on the Champions Tour. In 2019 he received the US Golf Association’s highest honor, the Bob Jones Award. He passed away in 2021, and many of golf’s biggest names have petitioned for him to be selected for the World Golf Hall of Fame. Only time will tell if he will be posthumously bestowed with this honor.
Alona Avery and KJ Ofahengaue won the boys and girls titles at the second annual Mack Champ Invitational with steady performances down the stretch under tough, windy conditions.
The wind was howling all day at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, with gusts reaching 45 miles per hour.
Cameron Champ was on hand to watch the final round and was impressed with the juniors’ ability to overcome the conditions.
“It was amazing,” he said. “This is a great golf course. With this wind and these conditions, it can make an easy golf course extremely hard, and a hard golf course even harder. It just showed how good they are.”
Avery, from Riverside, CA, shot 70-78 for a 4-over total and edged Shyla Brown of McKinney, TX, in a one-hole playoff in the girls 13-18 division. Avery’s sister Amari won last year’s MCI and now plays at the University of Southern California.
Brown appeared to have the tournament locked up, but she finished with a double bogey on 17 and a bogey on 18 to fall back into a tie with Avery, who parred the final three holes. Avery then won the playoff on No. 1, making par 5 to Brown’s 7.
Ofahengaue, from Lehi, UT, finished with five straight pars to shoot 73. His 1-over total for the tournament was good enough to beat Trey Rusthoven from St. Peters, MO, by a shot. Roman Solomon, last year’s boys champ, finished five shots back after shooting 79 on Sunday.
Ofahengaue is a cousin of Tony Finau’s and had two brothers playing in this year’s MCI.
Axel Monssoh from Miami, who also won his age division last year, shot 5-over 77 for an 8-over total to win the boys 11-12 division by six shots. Myla Robinson from Eastvale, CA, won the girls 11-12 division with a 10-over total after shooting 75 on Sunday.
The Mack Champ Invitational was created to honor the legacy of PGA Tour pro Cameron Champ’s grandfather, who introduced Cameron to the game. The tournament seeks to identify and boost the prospects of elite junior golfers of diverse backgrounds. This year’s field had players from all over the country as well and England and the Bahamas, and 15 players in the field have commitments to play college golf.
Asked what his grandfather would think if he were alive to see this tournament, Champ said Mack would have been thrilled.
“He’d be laughing, cracking up. He’d be so excited. I don’t think he ever would have dreamed of anything like this happening in his name. For us to continue his legacy and to create a fun environment for the kids to come enjoy and hang out, it’s just awesome to see.”
For more than 25 years, Dr. Greta Anderson has been focused on the study of education and learning processes among learners in the classroom and in the athletic environments. Having earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Research from The University of Michigan (1999), Dr. Greta serves as an instructor and coach rooted in a skillset focused on learning outcomes, implementing measurable strategies for development, goal setting and furthering the skills needed to attain success.
As one of only a relative handful of African American women to have earned Class A status as a golf teaching professional, Dr. Greta is a proud and active member of the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (LPGA). She is one of the golf industry’s most passionate advocates for the growth and diversification of golf, particularly among women. Having made the conscious decision to become a change-agent in that regard, Dr. Greta’s commitment to increasing female engagement in the game of golf is reflected in her industry involvement. To that end, the leadership roles she has assumed within the LPGA are significant:
As a result of Dr. Greta’s experience, knowledge and focus, she is recognized as a thought-leader within industry arenas. From her frequent guest appearances on podcasts and blogs focused on education, mental focus and coaching to serving as a sponsored guest and roundtable speaker at events focused on industry growth, Dr. Greta is committed to formulating and creating positive insights within golf. Other industry leadership roles held by Dr. Greta include:
Dr. Greta’s extensive experience as a business owner and builder has intersected with her involvement with her leadership industry-level golf education in several ways. For example, she served as a National Board Member of the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) during the merger from which the LPGA Amateur Association (2017-18) emerged. Likewise, Dr. Greta plays an integral role in the most recent edition of the educational materials for the LPGA’s renowned Teacher Education Program. Just recently, she was commissioned by LPGA leadership to serve as a lead author, researcher and to serve as a featured lecturer for several components of written and online materials, including “The Business of Golf” modules.
Through her Atlanta-based instruction practice, Dr. Greta Golf, she provides golf education, instruction, consultation and coaching in a welcoming environment to players of all levels. From clinics to private lessons to custom packages, Dr. Greta focuses on helping every golfer learn and grow, no matter the circumstances. As a global tour operator, the Dr. Greta Golf team also builds and creates unique global golf travel experiences for adventurous travelers looking to explore the world as part of their golf journey. As part of this, Dr. Greta serves as a golf education partner to resorts and travel experts around the world and has hosted teaching programs throughout the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and beyond.
In her spare time, Dr. Greta enjoys participating in weightlifting workouts, reading, traveling, playing golf with good friends and family, and enjoying live music.
Steve Stanley was educated at Wayne State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Steve has over 20 years of professional business experience. In 2019 he made the successful transition to the golf industry and combined his passion for the sport with his business acumen. He has also created a TV show called “Golfing Around TV”, which showcases golf courses, training tips, interviews with golf pros and celebrities, and more.
As an advocate for diversity and inclusion, Steve is currently implementing numerous initiatives to ensure that African American golfers have access to the same resources and opportunities as any other golfers. He has helped create and support programs designed to teach the game of golf to interested individuals and underprivileged communities, while also providing mentorship, networking, and career advancement.
This 62’Arc all-weather-year-round umbrella is a first for me. First is its reflective exterior protects you from harmful UV rays. When you are first to tee off in your group, and the sun’s beaming down on you while you wait for the rest of your group to tee off, pull out the SunTek Solaire Golf Umbrella to protect you from those harmful UV rays. That’s something that your skin and body will thank you for.
Built with a lightweight graphite shaft, you’ll hardly notice any weight holding this umbrella, For those cool rainy days on the course, the Sun-Tek Solaire umbrella’s slip-resistant stylish handle is a must. A little or a lot of rainwater won’t cause you to lose grip on this one.
The Sun-Tek Solaire Umbrella has something called the double canopy Vortec Venting System. This system allows wind to flow through the canopy to help prevent the umbrella from inverting during strong winds. Anyone who has had an umbrella invert on them knows the struggle (and embarrassment) to get the umbrella to straighten out again to its original form. So, through the sun, rain, sleet Sun-Tek will always have you covered.
Sturdy fiberglass construction provides additional lightning storm safety. The rounded tips also provide safety and style —because nothing is worse than getting poked in the eye or face. Sun-Tek makes safety their number one concern with this extra feature and design and the umbrellas are designed to be the only umbrella you will ever need. African American Golfers Digest recommends Sun-Tek Umbrellas. MSRP: $34.99. Available at https://www.golfstoreoutlet.com/products/suntek-solaire-62-umbrella
CHARLOTTE, NC (March 16, 2022) – Greenwood Golf is excited to announce our presence in the golf world. As a 100% Black-owned business, Greenwood was founded in 2021 to celebrate the quality time enjoyed during a round of golf. “We believe the sport of golf provides time to bond with your playing partners: family, friends, co-workers, future clients, and even your competitors.” Our uniquely crafted products support that experience whether by our tour-level golf balls or our putter covers, which have proven to be great conversation starters.
First, our signature GREENWOOD golf ball. When standing on the tee box about to strike the ball, there is no difference between a professional golfer and a beginner. Every shot is rooted in the hope that it is the one. Our three-layer urethane ball is expertly crafted for golfers who are ready to take their game to the next level. Originally ($40/dozen), now on sale for ($35/dozen).
Knowing how important it is to utilize the quality time that a round of golf offers, our uniquely crafted putter covers may be just what you need to jump-start the conversation. Each cover can be personalized to match your individual style, school colors, or brands. Prices start at $25 per cover.
If you would like to add Greenwood to your bag, you can find them on their website (www.greenwood.golf) or (www.amazon.com).
Images Courtesy of Greenwood Golf.
Why did we start Greenwood? – Founder Chris Word, originally from East Saint Louis, Illinois, now residing in Charlotte, North Carolina, is passionate about the game of golf. Chris’ passion for the game comes from his years playing and the range of diverse players that he has met. He believes that “There is a diverse community of golfers who love the game. I have played with women, children, professional athletes, entrepreneurs, business professionals, veterans and even retirees who wore jeans and smoked cigarettes the whole round. What I have come to appreciate is that no matter who you are, your background, beliefs, or ethnicity when you are on the course, you are a part of the community of golfers that love the game. I founded Greenwood Golf to capture the essence of that diversity and experience.”
For more information, please contact: [email protected]
The Varispeed Putting System comes with a mat to create custom putting breaks in terms of height and length. The system also includes a putting cup and frames at the end of the mat, so that the ball won’t roll off the end of the mat. You also have the ability to change through the four different height levels which easily adjust.
The VariSpeed mat is made of fine material and when in use, offers you real course-like conditions. What we like most is the ability to customize the putting speed which enables you to forecast realistic breaks. Another excellent feature is the mat fibers which enable you to view the exact path of each putt with the ball traces visible. This is by far, the most helpful benefit of the mat for golfers who like to actually SEE what path their ball is taking.
A very informative product booklet is included with the system and is helpful in providing training exercises along with some fun games that can keep you engaged with the system for hours at a time. MSRP: $99.99. Available at https://www.golfstoreoutlet.com/collections/practice-training-aids/products/varispeed-putting-system
View the video for more details on this great product:
3/18/22 – EDITORS NOTE: In response to this tragedy, GoFundMe launched a centralized hub to house all of the verified fundraisers for victims of the USW golf team crash. All fundraisers on the hub are verified by the GoFundMe Trust & Safety team and they are working with all campaign organizers to ensure funds safely and quickly reach the victims’ families.
The hub will continually be updated as more verified fundraisers are created: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/university-of-the-southwest-bus-accident
You can also check our official Twitter thread that is being updated with new fundraisers in real-time: https://twitter.com/gofundme/status/1504228635401605127
For additional information and verified fundraisers contact: Madeline Purdue [email protected]
A vehicle carrying members of the University of the Southwest’s golf teams collided head-on with a pickup truck on a two-lane road in West Texas, killing multiple people, including some students and the teams’ coach, officials said.
The vehicles crashed Tuesday night in Andrews County. Sgt. Steven Blanco of the Texas Department of Public Safety told KWES-TV there were fatalities in both vehicles, but the number of dead wasn’t immediately released.
“It’s a very tragic scene,” Blanco said. “It’s very, very tragic.”
University president Quint Thurman said in a statement that the vehicle was being driven by the teams’ coach, Tyler James, and was carrying about seven to nine students. He said James and some students were among the dead.
“We are still learning the details about the accident but we are devastated and deeply saddened to learn about the loss of our students’ lives and their coach,” Thurman said in the statement.
Thurman said two students were airlifted to a hospital in Lubbock, Texas, with serious injuries.
The vehicle was transporting members of the school’s men’s and women’s golf teams from a tournament, Blanco said, and the other vehicle involved was a Ford F-150.
The University of the Southwest is a private, Christian college located in Hobbs, New Mexico, near the state’s border with Texas. The teams had been scheduled to play in a tournament Tuesday at Midland College, about 315 miles west of Dallas.
The university tweeted that it was working to notify the family members of those involved in the crash and that counseling and religious services would be available on campus.
The crash happened in the same area — but not the same roadway — where three people were killed in November when a pickup truck crashed into a school bus carrying members of the Andrews High School band. The high school’s band director, the school bus driver and the driver of the pickup truck all died in that crash.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Acclaimed Jewelry Designer Frank Fraley of Fine Design By Noah co-hosted the Michigan Snowbird Cup at Martin Downs Country Club, South Florida’s premier golf destination. Proceeds from the event are designated to benefit the career of Georgia Oboh, Nigerian Golf’s poster girl.
Oboh is no stranger to competitive golf, the rising star of the Ladies European Tour competed in eight tournaments in 2020 with a season-best finish of 42nd at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open. Oboh has also won numerous Nigeria awards and won her first professional tournament on her professional debut at the Cote D’Ivoire Open.
Fraley brought it all together at the tournament by awarding winners with the new and beautiful Fulani golf bracelet.
