In a whirlwind of golf swings, skill-building, surprises, and camaraderie, the second edition of the Underrated Golf Curry Cup, hosted by none other than Stephen Curry, came to life at Lake Merced Country Club from August 20 to 22. With steadfast support from corporate partners and a determined spirit, the Underrated Golf Tour’s sophomore season concluded with a thunderous victory, crowning Lucky Cruz and Roisin Scanlon as the 2023 Underrated Golf Tour Champions.
Spearheaded by KPMG, the Underrated Golf Tour‘s final stop was nothing short of a golf extravaganza at Lake Merced Golf Club. A cadre of 24 talented boys and girls descended upon the course, ready to vie for the coveted Curry Cup. The competition was fierce, the stakes were high, and the atmosphere was electric.
Underrated Golf had a surprise up its sleeve, showcasing appearances by luminaries such as Underrated Golf Ambassador Mariah Stackhouse, former Golden State Warriors player Andre Iguodala, PGA golfer Brandon Wu, and retired Davidson Basketball Coach Bob McKillop. The festivities didn’t stop there, featuring a CarMax Putting Contest and a fireside discussion that warmed hearts and inspired minds.
After a rollercoaster of a season, filled with intense competitions, skill-enhancing training, enriching education, and enlightening panels, the Underrated Golf Tour reached its grand finale—the Curry Cup. Presented by KPMG, this crescendo was a culmination of dedication, passion, and a celebration of young talent.
The action kicked off on Sunday and Monday, as the chosen 24 participants gathered to put their golf prowess to the test. These young athletes were handpicked after an extensive search across four U.S. cities—West Palm Beach, Akron, Las Vegas, and Seattle—to find the diamonds in the rough, the unsung heroes of the golf world. Flown in from different corners of the country, these finalists converged in the Bay Area to give it their all at the Curry Cup.
Tuesday dawned with an unexpected twist: the appearance of none other than Stephen Curry himself. The basketball legend mingled with the young athletes, adding an extra dash of excitement to the final matches. Amid cheers and high-fives, Lucky Cruz emerged as the top boy, hailing from Magnolia, Texas. On the girls’ side, Roisin Scanlon reigned supreme, journeying all the way from Rushden, England. Beyond the trophies, Cruz and Scanlon secured the opportunity to compete internationally in the upcoming year—an honor that solidified their status as champions.
The Curry Cup ceremony unveiled a game-changing revelation: the Underrated Golf Tour’s expansion on the global stage in its 2024 season (the location remains tantalizingly undisclosed). Joining Scanlon and Cruz on this international adventure are Roman Solomon, Evan Pena, Ashley Shaw, and Krishny Slwin.
The event wasn’t just about the winners; it was a celebration of fortitude, commitment, and potential. Scholarships were bestowed upon standout athletes who embody Underrated Golf’s values. KJ Ofahengaue and Krishny Elwin received the prestigious Dell Curry Scholarship presented by Cisco, each receiving $25,000. Thomas Reid and Myla Robinson walked away with the 2K Foundation’s Merit Award, earning $10,000 each. These scholarships not only reward achievement but also sow the seeds of education for a brighter future.
And what’s a tournament without a bit of fun? CarMax threw a putting contest that pitted all 24 junior golfers against each other. In a delightful twist, Blayne Brown claimed victory for the girls, while Roman Solomon reigned supreme among the boys. Both earned the ultimate prize: tickets to NBA or WNBA games in their hometowns.
LPGA Tour player and KPMG + Underrated Golf brand ambassador Mariah Stackhouse led a “KPMG Leadership Development Day.” The day featured interactive workshops and sessions with leaders across various domains, enriching the student-athletes’ leadership prowess on and off the golf course.
KPMG LLP, the driving force behind this endeavor, aimed to champion equity, access, and opportunity for underrepresented and underrated youth in golf.
Underrated Golf’s accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without the backing of corporate partners such as PGA, Callaway Golf, Wiz Kid, Subway, AJGA, Golf Pride, 2K Foundation, United Airlines, CDW, Cisco, Chase, and Stephen’s very own Curry Brand under the umbrella of Under Armour.
In a dazzling crescendo of talent, passion, and camaraderie, the second Annual Underrated Golf Curry Cup proved that these young athletes are anything but underrated.
ABOUT UNDERRATED
UNDERRATED is an inspiring lifestyle brand with a mission to empower underrated and underrepresented individuals all over the world. With a passion for celebrating the underdog, UNDERRATED echoes this message across three main categories including experiences, media and physical product. The brand, which was established by Stephen Curry in 2019, draws on the revered NBA Champion’s personal story as an underappreciated three-star athlete in high school who always stood in the shadows of his peers. As a powerful culmination of this inspiring journey to the top, UNDERRATED is committed to opening doors for often-overlooked student-athletes by developing impactful basketball programming, and fostering a platform for visibility through the UNDERRATED Championships, which create opportunities for players to be recognized by key figures. Based in the Bay Area, UNDERRATED is a mindset, a motivation, a calling, a compliment. For more information, please visit www.stayunderrated.com, and connect on social media via Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
ABOUT UNDERRATED GOLF
Steph Curry founded UNDERRATED Golf to provide equity, access and opportunity to deserving student-athletes from underserved communities who may not otherwise be exposed to the full benefits of the sport. The mission is to increase the participation of competitive golfers from diverse backgrounds, and to engage corporate partners for mentoring, networking and visibility. The program is also addressing the gender gap in golf by providing female players with the same opportunities as their male counterparts. Players receive valuable exposure to collegiate golf programs and potential NIL partners, along with training, equipment, leadership panels and other benefits provided by tour sponsors. The UNDERRATED Tour plans to expand throughout the U.S. and globally, further diversifying the pool of junior, collegiate and professional players around the world.
For more information, please visit www.underrated.golf, and connect on social media via Instagram and Twitter.
ABOUT KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP is the U.S. firm of the KPMG global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. The KPMG global organization operates in 143 countries and territories and has more than 265,000 people working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such.
KPMG is widely recognized for being a great place to work and build a career. Our people share a sense of purpose in the work we do, and a strong commitment to community service, inclusion and diversity and eradicating childhood illiteracy. Learn more at www.kpmg.com/us.
About CarMax
CarMax, the nation’s largest retailer of used autos, revolutionized the automotive retail industry by driving integrity, honesty and transparency in every interaction. The company offers a truly personalized experience with the option for customers to do as much, or as little, online and in-store as they want. During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, CarMax sold approximately 810,000 used vehicles and 590,000 wholesale vehicles at its auctions. In addition, CarMax Auto Finance originated nearly $9 billion in receivables during fiscal 2023, adding to its nearly $17 billion portfolio. CarMax has over 240 stores, more than 30,000 associates, and is proud to have been recognized for 19 consecutive years as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®. CarMax is committed to making a positive impact on people, communities and the environment. Learn more in the 2023 Responsibility Report. For more information, visit www.carmax.com
