Congratulations to the Delaware State University women’s golf team for its second-place finish Feb. 24-26 in the inaugural HBCU Collegiate Golf Championship, presented by Arcis Golf.
Women’s teams from seven historically Black colleges and universities played three rounds in a team stroke play format at The Players Course in Weston, Fla. The Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout at The Club at Weston Hills is one of 70 public and private courses operated by Arcis in the United States.
Howard University’s Bison took first place, with Alabama State coming in third behind DSU. Rounding out the rest of the standings are North Carolina Central, Chicago State University, Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern.
Estelle Verny finished best for the Hornets in second place, behind Kendall Jackson of Howard. Among the other DSU golfers, Claudia Hofmeister finished fourth, with teammate Julie Gauvin in 15th, Emily Murray tied for 17th, and Taylor Harvey tied for 20th in the field of 35 golfers.
DSU coach Rick McCall Jr. said, “It was a great event run by Arcis and the Black College Golf Coaches Association. This is the time of year to really challenge each player and prepare them for the NEC Championship in April.”
McCall added, “Scores are not our real concern; it is more about inner growth and building our self-belief, and creating positive self-talk during the round. So, failing right now is welcome, and I am just trying to get my team in situations that cause them to start feeling comfortable in the uncomfortable. All in all, a good event for us and certainly trending toward success in April!”
In a press release, Blake Walker, founder and CEO of Arcis, said, “We are incredibly proud and pleased to host the first of what we expect will become a recurring fixture on the collegiate golf scene. This tournament exemplifies how we can grow the sport for all audiences, while helping the student-athletes learn more about the industry and the business of golf.”
Sussex Superhero Outing
The Kim and Evans Family Foundation will hold its final charity fundraising golf tournament Monday, April 22, at The Peninsula Golf and Country Club in Millsboro. The event supports the foundation’s programs assisting local families in need and local veterans.
A portion of the proceeds will also benefit the Red Bird Legacy Foundation, a Bethel-based nonprofit. The organization helps parents with life-threatening illnesses to create photographs and other keepsakes to preserve legacies and carry their memory forward for their minor children.
The tournament includes 18 holes of golf, food, snacks and prize opportunities. The individual player entrance fee is $250, with foursomes at $1,000. Sponsorships are also available ranging from $250 through $5,000.
It is highly unusual to announce that a nonprofit’s fundraiser tournament is the last one it will hold. When asked why, foundation President Joseph Kim gave a cost-benefit explanation. “The cost of golf outings has increased, leading to less profits. The number of charity golf outings have also increased, leading to more competition for sponsors and golfers. We announced it to inform our regular golfers and sponsors as a courtesy. It was a great run.”
For participation information or to register or become a sponsor, go to kimandevansff.org. For more information about Red Bird Legacy, go to redbirdlegacyfoundation.org.
In some respects, Kim’s comments sound a bit like the companies that recently announced they will no longer sponsor PGA Tour events, such as Wells Fargo, Farmers Insurance and Honda.
There is a limit.
Jaye Bird
There is something to be said for taking a hands-on approach to creating and operating your business.
If you won’t, who will?
Jaye Bird founder Katie Byrnes moved to Hong Kong in 2018, and spent many hours developing contacts and sources in search of better women’s golfwear. “I knew what I wanted for the look and feel,” she said when we chatted at the 2024 PGA Show. “I wanted pockets, pull-on comfort, and fabric wicking for warm weather. I did not want so much of a sporty look. I was going for a simple, timeless look instead.”
Like many women in the golf apparel business I have interviewed, Byrnes also sought to create clothing options that golfers would also love to wear off the course.
The resulting designs, all built in Hong Kong, include several appealing features. The knit fabric provides 50+ SPF protection, and the tops and bottoms are easily mixed and matched. Classic solids, prints, plaids and polka dots round out the options.
Byrnes said the tops retail for $108 to $130, with bottoms going for $148 to $159.
Among her items in her core collection, I was impressed by the Mel Ruffle Collar Golf Top ($108), the Mills Side Tie Skort ($148) and the Emily Golf Dress ($188).
Jaye Bird first launched at the 2023 PGA Show. Byrnes said she acquired more green-grass accounts at this year’s show. The company also sells direct-to-consumer at its website, jayebirdgolf.com.
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Fritz Schranck has been writing about the Cape Region's golf community since 1999. Snippets, stories and anecdotes from his columns are included in his new book, "Hole By Hole: Golf Stories from Delaware's Cape Region and Beyond," which is available at the Cape Gazette offices, Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, Biblion Books in Lewes, and local golf courses. His columns and book reviews are available at HoleByHole.com.
Contact Fritz by emailing fschranck@holebyhole.com.
