College of Golf September 2023 Events
Keiser University’s Golf Club Team Participates in NCCGA’s Regional 1 Tournament
Keiser University’s Golf Club Team participated in the National Collegiate Club Golf Association’s (NCCGA) Regional 1 Golf Tournament at Forrest Lake Golf Club in Ocoee, Florida on September 23-24, 2023.
The 36-hole event was won by the University of Florida, with the Seahawks finishing in 7th place. The team was led by Jared Drake, who shot rounds of 73-75. Ian Gillis shot 76-75, Caden Carr 78-79, and Kyle Nieter 79-80, rounding out the top players for the club.
The team is preparing to compete again at the Region 2 Tournament at Fairwinds Golf Course in Ft. Pierce, Florida, from September 30 – October 1, 2023. Currently ranked 38th in the country, the Seahawks hope to improve and move up in the ranking after finishing ranked 8th in Spring 2023. An invitation to the National Championship is at stake.
For complete results, please visit nccga.org.
Pictured L-R: Jake Donato, Caden Carr,
Jared Drake, James Fellows, Peter Tavella,
Kyle Nieter, and Abbas Husain
Captain Ian Gillis
College of Golf Students Qualify to Play in the National Collegiate Club Golf Association Regional Tournaments
The Keiser University College of Golf (KUCOG) Club Golf Team will compete in the National Collegiate Club Golf Association’s (NCCGA) Florida Regional Golf Tournaments for the 11th straight year. The Seahawks finished the spring season ranked #8 in the Nation.
Twenty-two students attempted to qualify for eight spots at Okeeheelee Golf Course over three days. The low qualifiers were Kyle Nieter, 74, Captain Ian Gillis, 75, and Jake Donato, 77. Other students qualifying for the team were returning players Abbas Husain and Caden Carr and new additions Jared Drake, James Fellows, and Peter Tavella. The three alternates are Zack King, Felix Li, and Kellen Parris.
The first NCCGA Florida Regional Tournament will be on September 23rd and 24th at Forest Lake Golf Club in Ocoee, Florida, and the second Regional Tournament is on September 30th and October 1st at Fairwinds Golf Club in Fort Pierce, Florida. Other Florida universities competing in the Regional Tournaments are the University of Miami, Florida International University, Florida State University, University of Florida, University of Tampa, and University of Central Florida.
“The qualifying rounds and NCCGA tournaments allow students to play competitive rounds of golf. This helps them improve their game and prepare for their PGA of America Players Ability Test. It also gives students a chance to belong to a real team, build relationships, and have fun,” said PGA Program Instructor Coach Frank Longabucco.
The Seahawk Club Team is bidding to earn a spot in the Fall National Tournament in Mississippi this November. The NCCGA is comprised of over 200 College Club Teams across the country. To learn more, please visit nccga.org.
Left to Right: Bottom/Kneeling: Abbas Husain, Kyle Nieter, Felix Li.
Left to Right: Standing: Jake Donato, Jared Drake, Caden Carr, Peter Tavella, Zack King, Kellen Parris, and Ian Gillis. Not pictured James Fellows.
College of Golf Students Participate in Historic Hickory Open Putting Championship
Keiser University College of Golf (KUCOG) Professor Ken Martin’s History of Golf class members recently enjoyed a unique opportunity. Martin and KUCOG Executive Director of Golf Operations Dr. Eric Wilson organized a putting competition using hickory-shafted putters and golf balls from different historical eras, beginning in the early 1800s and progressing through the modern day.
Students gathered at the KUCOG’s Outdoor Putting Green as Martin explained each of the different putting stations, culminating in a 36-hole putting competition. The group putted three-hole segments with each of the following:
- Long nose putter and featherie golf ball
- Wry-neck blade putter and hand-hammered gutta percha golf ball
- Brown-Vardon semi-mallet head putter and bramble pattern gutta percha golf ball
- Schenectady center-shafted putter and balata-covered golf ball
- Calamity Jane putter (used by Bobby Jones) and replica mesh dimple ball
- Hackbarth putter and Pro V-1 golf ball
- Wright Ditson Cash-In putter and Dunlop 65 Balata golf ball
- MacGregor Roll Face Technology putter and Dunlop 65 Balata golf ball
- Acushnet Bulls-eye putter and Dunlop 65 Balata golf ball
- PING Answer putter and Titleist Professional golf ball
- Bass-Ackward putter and Titleist Professional golf ball
- MacGregor Response putter and Titleist Professional golf ball
Par for the course was 72, and student Amber Gao won the event with a score of four-over-par 76. Hayden Gamache finished second with a score of 78, while Faye Wheatley and Michael Roppolo tied for third with a score of 79.
Historic Putting Championship Group Photo
Amber Gao, Historic Putting Championship Winner
