College of Golf September 2017 Events
Keiser University College of Golf Students Will Roll Up Their Sleeves to Volunteer
at the Special Olympics Golf Tournament
Eight Keiser University College of Golf students will volunteer their time to work at the Disney World Magnolia Golf Course in Orlando, Florida to support the 2017 Florida Special Olympics State Golf Tournament.
Students and family members Willie Scott and his two daughters, Chris Rooney, Mitchell Bland, Brad Ropke, Aaron Paulk, Kenneth Eurto, Charles Murray, and Ciaron Hennessy will work as Stagers and Organizers for the Level 1 Skills Competition during the event.
Play will commence Friday at noon for participants from all over the state of Florida – 200 Special Olympics athletes, 80 coaches, 200 volunteers, 30 delegates, and 50 family members. Athletes will compete in all five levels of Special Olympics Golf. Gold Medal winners in each of the Levels and Divisions will qualify for limited spots in the next Special Olympics National Invitational Golf Tournament to be held next summer in Seattle, Washington.
Dinner and Opening Ceremonies will be held on Friday evening at 6:30pm following competition, and the Awards Presentation will be conducted at the completion of each level of play on Saturday afternoon/evening.
Dr. Eric Wilson, Executive Director of Golf Operations for Keiser University College of Golf and Chairman of the Special Olympics Golf Committee for North America, coordinated the student volunteer activities with Amy Simon, Special Olympics Florida Volunteer Manager.
Graduates from Keiser University Flagship Campus College of
Golf Transition to Careers in the Golf Industry
Keiser University’s recent College of Golf Pinning Ceremony for three Associate of Science in Golf Management (ASGM) graduates marked the end of their educational experiences and the beginning of their careers in the golf industry. The ceremony, held in the Countess de Hoernle Student Life Center on the Flagship Campus, was attended by the graduates and their families, staff, faculty, and fellow classmates. Following remarks by Mr. John McMurry, Flagship Campus Vice President, and Dr. Eric Wilson, Executive Director of Golf Operations, Brian Hughes, Golf Program Director, introduced the graduates, each of whom spoke to the assembly, recounting their time spent at Keiser University. Graduating from the Associate of Science program were Steven Lopez, Luke Thompson, and Ian Wrightson.
Keiser University College of Golf graduates receive both academic and hands-on learning opportunities as they earn Associate of Science degrees in Golf Management in as little as 16 months and Bachelor of Science in Golf Management degrees in an additional 20 months. Their degrees earn six/twelve credits toward membership in the PGA of America. With over 1500 square feet of indoor instructional space, including motion analysis systems, simulators, launch monitors, and video analysis capabilities, Keiser University’s superior technology has fine-tuned the graduates’ golf swings to the point where passing the PGA’s Playing Ability Test is a realistic goal. To preview tips from some of Keiser University’s golf experts, please click here.
Keiser University College of Golf Students Participate in
Second Historic Hickory Open Putting Championship
Keiser University’s College of Golf (COG) History of Golf class students recently had the unique opportunity to participate in a putting competition using hickory-shafted putters and golf balls from different historical eras, beginning in the early 1800’s and progressing through modern day.
Organized by professor Ken Martin along with College of Golf Executive Director of Golf Operations Dr. Eric Wilson, the event began at the Outdoor Putting Green as Martin and Wilson explained each of the six different putting stations. It culminated as an 18-hole competition with students putting three-hole segments using each of the following:
- Long nose putter and featherie golf ball (pre-1848)
- Kempshall Pyraline putter and smooth gutta percha golf ball (1848-1850)
- Wry-neck blade putter and hand-hammered gutta percha golf ball (1850-1865)
- Brown-Vardon semi-mallet head putter and bramble pattern gutta percha golf ball (1865-1900)
- Spalding Hollow-Back putter and balata covered golf ball (1900-1960)
- Personal putter and Pro V-1 golf balls (1960-modern day)
Par for the course was 36, and the second Champion Putter of the Historic Open Putting Championship was student Jay Jay Howard, who tied Christian Brown for first place with a score of 37 and won a three-hole aggregate playoff with a score of even par. Finishing third by a single stroke were students Brennan Gillis and Robert Stingo. The remainder of the field results follow: Jonathan Gosbee (39), James O’Hara (39), Tom Brady (41), Ed Dougherty (41), Dima Koba (42), Winston Crosier (44), and David Geers (47). Seventeen holes-in-one were recorded, a record number for the event, with Jonathan Gosbee claiming four during his round.
Future History of Golf class students will continue to enjoy the competition, and they too will have their plaques added to the base of the Open Claret Jug replica to commemorate their victories.
Professor Ken Martin explaining hickory putting to his History of Golf class
L-R: Christian Brown and Jay Jay Howard
L-R: Professor Martin and Jay Jay Howard and the Historic Putting Trophy
Keiser University College of Golf Club Golf Team
Finishes Second in the NCCGA South Florida Regional
By John Callahan, PGA, College of Golf Professor
Keiser University’s College of Golf (COG) Club Golf Team recently finished second in the first tournament of the year, the National Collegiate Club Golf Association (NCCGA) South Florida Regional, held at the beautiful Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
The Keiser University team was led by freshman captain Andrew Abbott and Marshall Lamp, both of whom carded two-day totals of 153 which yielded an individual second place tie in the 44-player field. The low individual score of 143 was recorded by the University of Central Florida’s Daniel Robinson, who’d led his team to the overall team title by the slim margin of 11 strokes over the Keiser University Seahawks.
Other major contributors to Keiser University’s team showing were Freshman Ciaran Hennessy (158—7th low individual), Winston Crosier (79 in round one) and Brennen Gillis who had a fine 76 on Sunday. Rounding out the Seahawk squad were Chris Rooney, Chris Psetas and Kevin McCarthy—each of whom had a hand in the team’s good start to the 2017 fall season. Each day team scores were determined by the lowest five individual scores from each eight-person squad.
The NCCGA runs competitive weekend college golf tournaments for students during the Fall and Spring semesters each year. Over 350 colleges and universities participate in the NCCGA.
Congratulations, Seahawks!
Coach John Callahan accepting the trophies for the team and individual winners (the players left earlier because it was going to be at least two hours before the presentations and they had a long way to travel).
The Flag is for Keiser’s second place team finish (UCF won by 11 shots). The teams tied the second day but UCF had an 11 stoke lead after day 1.
The mugs are for Andrew Abbott (tie 2nd low individual, 80-73=153); Marshall Lamp (tie 2nd low individual, 75-78=153); and Ciaran Hennessy (8th low individual (79-79=158).
Note there are only 8 individual prizes awarded and Keiser snagged 3.
Team Photo: left to right: Chris Rooney, Marshall Lamp, Kevin McCarthy, Captain Andrew Abbott,
Winston Crosier, Ciaran Hennessy, Brennen Gillis. Not: not pictured Chris Psetas.
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