Pete McDaniel
Contributing Editor
African American Golfer’s Digest
Blog: May 2013
“Unsung”
As a big fan of the TV show “Unsung,’’ I appreciate the efforts of those the world has discarded like spam in spite of their oftentimes significant impact on our culture. I guess ephemeral fame is the cost of the “what-have-you-done-for-me-lately’’ mentality prevalent among every member of Generation Next with an Instagram account.
However, many of us old-school aficionados like a stroll down memory lane every now and then, especially if the payoff is an enlightening experience and the heroes were worthy of the reverence in the first place.
Unsung hero LaJean Gould (left) is definitely worthy of the reverence. The founder and president of the Women in Golf Foundation has been tilling the soil and planting the seeds in the garden of minority college golf for nearly two decades. Unappreciated, unheralded, uncompromised and, yes, unsung, she is a difference-maker whose legacy extends far beyond the 18th hole.
There she was Sunday afternoon, in full rain gear, like a chaperone on prom night, guiding some of the Historically Black College and University’s (HBCU) finest through the post-tournament ceremonial necessities. The rainy final round of the 19th annual Women’s Collegiate Golf Classic at Stone Mountain GC in the books, there was a victorious rally awaiting celebration.
South Carolina State rallied from eight strokes back with a final-round score of 327 to post a 36-hole total of 671 and edge first-round leader Alabama State by four strokes for the team title. Tiana Jones shot a pair of 79s to lead South Carolina State and nip Prairie View A&M’s Shanequa Valentine by a shot for individual honors. Hampton’s Kayla Williams finished third at 162.
What the six-team field lacked in numbers it made up for in enthusiasm. Even the weather couldn’t put a damper on a successful weekend showcasing woman power around the theme “Being on Fire: In the Zone.’’ As explained in the tournament program: “The zone is a powerful place to be, and to be there on fire will create your magic, your extraordinary self.’’
To drive home that point, author and TV star Judge Glenda Hatchett served as keynote speaker for the championship dinner. Powerful women pointing potentially powerful women in the right direction. That’s mentoring at its best.
That has been LaJean’s life’s work ever since I’ve known her. She has assembled a great team of like-minded individuals in her board of directors and tournament sponsors. Her goal is not to produce professional golfers but to nurture young women toward being the best that they can be in whatever field of endeavor.
“We celebrate women and our ability to impact and change the world to make it a better place,’’ she says. “Our focus is to provide an experience that will contribute to the development of the talent at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and positively impact their ability to maximize their potential.’’
The odds are against any of the event’s competitors ever walking the fairways of an LPGA tournament; but the narrow fairways of a successful life is another story, one far grander. Thanks to LaJean and her friends, dozens of young ladies are already on that path.
Now that’s a song worth singing and recognizing long after the last note has faded into silence.
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Pete McDaniel is a veteran golf writer and best-selling author. His blogs and books are available at petemcdaniel.com
Comments on this topic may be emailed directly to Pete at: gdmcd@aol.com
