Ridgeland, SC, October 26, 2023 — Congaree Foundation and the ARNOLD & WINNIE PALMER FOUNDATION announced today that Congaree Golf Club has been selected to host the 2025 ARNOLD PALMER CUP. The event marks the beginning of a new partnership between two of the leading philanthropic organizations in the golf industry and will advance their shared commitment to positively impact the lives of youth through character development, educational opportunities and growth of the game of golf at the amateur and collegiate levels.
The 29th Arnold Palmer Cup is scheduled to be hosted at Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland, SC, June 5-7, 2025. The Ryder Cup-style tournament features the top men’s and women’s collegiate golfers, matching a U.S. team against a team of international players (12 men & 12 women per team); it is the only major tournament in which men and women play side-by-side as partners. Since its inception in 1997, it has been played at some of the world’s greatest courses, including The Old Course, Baltusrol, Royal Portrush and Cherry Hills. Over 125 tournament alumni have gone on to earn cards on the PGA, DP World, and LPGA Tours, claiming a combined 310 victories. Alumni include Major champions John Rahm, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Lucas Glover and Lilia Vu. The U.S. leads the overall series 14-12-1.
The new partnership will extend beyond the tournament and bolster each organization’s goals to impact lives through the game of golf. The Palmer Foundation will support Congaree Foundation’s philanthropic efforts, including the Congaree Global Golf Initiative (CGGI), financially, programmatically and through industry partnerships. CGGI, Congaree Foundation’s signature program, provides underserved and well-deserving high school students in the U.S. and globally who aspire to play collegiate golf access to the highest level of athletic coaching and academic tools to help them thrive in high school and college. The program, which is offered at no cost to participants, has helped youth golfers from 31 countries earn millions of dollars in scholarship funding and compete collegiately at over 50 schools in the U.S. since its inception.
The Palmer Foundation will also serve as a Nominating Partner for CGGI to identify and recommend future participants and will attend CGGI sessions at Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland, SC, and in the U.K. each summer to share the Palmer legacy. Additionally, the Palmer Foundation will endow a $100,000 scholarship for graduates of CGGI planning to enter a four-year university to play golf or study a golf-related field, such as agronomy or golf management, with plans to grow the endowment to $1 million by 2030. The partnership will also allow Congaree Foundation to provide a large and diverse pool of current and former CGGI students access to internship and employment opportunities with the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bay Hill Club, Latrobe Country Club and the Palmer Foundation.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, which shares Congaree Foundation’s mission to promote youth character and academic development through the game of golf,” said Dan Friedkin, founder of Congaree and Chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group.
“In addition to hosting one of the premier amateur golf events at Congaree, this partnership will allow us to use our collective resources and reach to impact even more students by providing them educational, mentorship and vocational opportunities that will enhance their opportunities for success in life.”
“My parents dedicated their lives to empowering youth,” said Amy Palmer Saunders. “The Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation is proud to partner with Congaree Foundation, which shares their values and mission to create opportunities for the next generation, leading to a better game and a better world for us all.”
Congaree, a Tom Fazio design, is located about 30 minutes north of Savannah, GA. The club, which ranks No. 42 in Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses, hosted the PGA TOUR’s THE CJ CUP in South Carolina in October of 2022, won by Rory McIlroy, as well as the Palmetto Championship at Congaree in June of 2021, won by Garrick Higgo.
In 2021, Congaree Foundation and Coastal Carolina University (CCU) partnered in the creation of the CONGAREE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP. This year, the Foundation is thrilled to announce its first recipient.
Jones Saylor, A 2022 graduate of the Congaree Global Golf Initiative will enroll in CCU’S PGA GOLF MANAGEMENT PROGRAM this fall. A native of Bluffton, SC, Saylor recently completed a stellar senior year in the classroom where he graduated with a 4.91 GPA and on the course where he earned All-Region honors and was select to the prestigious North-South Competition.
The scholarship is awarded annually to up to one student. To be eligible, they must be entering the University as full-time freshman in the PGA Golf Management program, have participated in Congaree Foundation programming, and be a South Carolina resident. The scholarship was established by Mike Pruitt, a friend of Congaree, who has a passion for CCU and the Congaree Foundation mission. The scholarship will cover all tuition and academic fees through all four years of a student’s college career. In addition to receiving the Congaree Foundation Scholarship, Pruitt has established an individual endowment to provide additional financial support of housing, meals, and other non-academic fees.
Following CGGI, Saylor worked closely with the Congaree Foundation team to assess his college options and determine the right fit to achieve his educational and professional goals. Congaree Foundation sat down with Saylor ahead his freshman year at CCU to discuss his decision to become a Chanticleer and what the CGGI experience meant to him.
Q: Why did you feel that Coastal Carolina University and the Professional Golf Management program was the right fit for you?
A: When I visited the campus last November, I loved how it felt like a true college setting. It was secluded on its own and not a campus placed in the middle of a city. Even though it is a relatively smaller campus by acreage, it still felt like it was its own place and town within the Conway area. Meeting with the PGM folks, I felt that I was going to be entering a family aspect within my college life and that they were going to be the support system for anything I needed while I was there. The feeling of being a part of a family within my degree program really made me feel at home. Everything about Coastal, with the PGM program, campus, and the student body atmosphere throughout the day and at athletic events, just really made me feel like I had found the place I was meant to be.
Q: What does it mean to you and your family to have your college expenses covered by this scholarship?
A: It’s truly a blessing to have my college expenses covered by the scholarship. Throughout high school, I always expected that I would have to go through a process of applying for multiple scholarships to be able to cover a lot of my expenses, and then possibly have to come out of pocket for any remaining amount. To be able to have my expenses covered is a blessing from above.
Q: How did your experience at CGGI help prepare you for college?
A: My experience at CGGI helped prepare me for college through the scheduling and all the knowledge provided during the week. Mr. Ed Graf (CGGI Academic Advisor) provided us with a lot of helpful information about the admissions process and what we should expect in a college setting. The entire team helped prepare us through their continued support as we finished high school and now as I prepare to begin college. I know they will always be there to help us if we were to need anything while in college.
Q: What are your goals for your time at Coastal and after you complete the PGM program?
A: While I am at Coastal, I am looking forward to meeting new people from around the country and earning a degree from a highly accredited business program. I believe that Coastal gives me all the tools I need to succeed later in life. After completing the PGAM Program, I hope I am able to give back to the future of the game that has become such a big part of my life throughout my childhood and help grow the game for future generations to enjoy.
Q: Is there anything you would like to say to the Congaree Foundation team and Ambassadors who help make this scholarship possible?
A: I would like to thank all the people involved who made this possible. Being selected for CGGI was life-changing for me and to be graced with such an amazing opportunity is humbling. Thank you to the entire CGGI team for all of your continued support throughout this entire process. Also, I want to thank all of the Ambassadors at Congaree for your support of the Foundation’s mission and what it provides to kids like myself. I cannot wait to represent Congaree and the Congaree Foundation the next 4 years at school.
This month, the sixth edition of the Congaree Global Golf Initiative drew 24 students to the South Carolina Lowcountry to hone their skills on the course and in the classroom.
The 2022 class of Congaree Kids traveled from 11 states, Canada, and Costa Rica, for intensive academic and athletic training as they pursue their goal of playing collegiate golf. This group of students were among the most accomplished to come through CGGI since the program’s inception, arriving with an average GPA of 3.9 and USGA handicap under 1.
The program had a major impact on Marcus Leonard, a rising senior from Atlanta, GA.
“This week has meant so much to me. It’s impacted my life, not so much in my golf game, but me as a better person,” Marcus said. “I want to simply say thank you, but I don’t even think that does it justice.”
Marcus is the third student from Atlanta to attend CGGI and was joined in the 2022 class by Haven Ward. Fellow Atlantan AJ Ford was a member of CGGI’s 2018 class and has gone on to have a successful collegiate career at North Carolina A&T.
Rising junior Karlie Campbell was initially apprehensive about traveling to Congaree from her hometown of Ethridge, Tennessee, but quickly settled in and felt at home in the Lowcountry.
“At first, I was a little nervous coming, just because I’ve never flown on a plane before and I’ve never been to a golf camp or anything so I didn’t really know what to expect,” Karlie said. “The people here just make you feel welcome, and it’s just a good atmosphere. To feel like you’re at home and to meet the people I did, to create the best memories, this is something I’ll never forget.”
Karlie is the third student from Ethridge to graduate from CGGI, and she was excited to share advice with future Congaree Kids.
“My advice is to make the most of the experience. It’s something that you’ll never forget,” Karlie said. “Like the speakers that we had said, ‘golf is what you do, not who you are.’ I think that’s a really big message that each kid should understand, especially at the age they are now.”
While the students learned valuable lessons during their week at Congaree, their relationship with CGGI has just begun. The program’s golf instructors, admissions experts and academic advisors will spend the next several years working closely with these students to help them earn valuable scholarships to achieve their collegiate goals.
Congaree Foundation is also excited to announce that CGGI is not finished for the year. For the first time, a third week of programing will be hosted at Archerfield Links in Scotland this July. The international location breaks down transportation barriers for students from Europe and Africa, allowing an additional 12 students from seven countries to attend.
The full list of 2022 CGGI participants can is below. You can learn more the Congaree Foundation and how to support its mission: How to Help
Congaree Golf Club Participants (May 29-June 12)
DJ Belcher – Simpsonville, South Carolina – 2024
Jeremiah Bianchi – Davenport, Florida – 2024
Karlie Campbell – Ethridge, Tennessee – 2024
Lane Carr – Medina, Tennessee – 2024
Taylor Davis – Salem, Virginia – 2024
Enrico Diaz – San Francisco, California – 2023
Kaylee Dwyer – Mokena, Illinois – 2024
Caroline Gilreath – Roanoke, Virginia – 2023
Jacob Harnden – Grafton, Ontario – 2024
Jamal Hutchison – Fletcher, North Carolina – 2023
Sawyer Klein – Denver, Colorado – 2023
Kayla Lee – Tampa, Florida – 2023
Marcus Leonard Jr. – Atlanta, Georgia – 2023
Krystal Li – Richmond Hill, Ontario – 2023
Elias Mardeni Jr. – Jaco, Costa Rica – 2023
Isaiah Marseille – Linden, New Jersey – 2023
Jaeya Mathis – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – 2023
Chase Matthew McLaughlin – Kernersville, North Carolina – 2024
Peyton Ogle – Signal Mountain, Tennessee – 2023
Jeep Patrick – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina – 2024
Jones Saylor – Bluffton, South Carolina – 2023
Robert Thompson – Charlotte, North Carolina – 2023
NaShawn Tyson – Stuart, Florida – 2023
Haven Ward – Atlanta, Georgia – 2023
Janneman Brand – Windhoek, Namibia – 2023
Prim Chikwaya – Harare, Zimbabwe – 2023
Abderahmane Fakori – Mohammedia, Morocco – 2024
Declan Fraser – Nairn, Scotland – 2023
Jake Johnston – Edinburgh, Scotland – 2023
Callum Kenneally – Duns, Scotland – 2023
Rachel Mackinlay – Amersham, England – 2023
Jack Mann – Ross Shire, Scotland – 2024
Todd Parker – Windhoek, Namibia – 2023
Edoardo Tadini – Stresa, Italy – 2023
Kristian Tsurtanov – Sofia, Bulgaria – 2024
Connor Wills – Ayr, Scotland – 2023
Tommy Fleetwood’s distinguished career has turned him into a household name among golf fans. The Congaree Professional Ambassador has established himself among the game’s professional elite, having won five times on the European Tour, notching second-place finishes in the U.S. and British Opens and suiting up for Europe’s Ryder Cup team. Fleetwood visited Congaree ahead of this year’s Masters Tournament (where he tied for 14thplace) and sat down with Bruce Davidson to talk about his formative development as a golfer and impart his advice to this year’s incoming Congaree Global Golf Initiative class.
Bruce Davidson: Tommy, you and I both grew up in the U.K. – me in Aberdeen and you in Southport. I grew up on a park by the course, a wee golf course called Banchory Golf Club. But any time we got a chance to play on the links course, if you qualified for the Northeast boys or the Scottish boys, you go play at links golf course. Tell us what you experienced growing up in Southport.
Tommy Fleetwood: I grew up on the local muni. My dad played and my brother played and I started when I was like 6. I just wanted to go and they cut a club down and they let me hit some.
I was in a links town, an amazing golfing town. We had The Open Championship come to Birkdale every 10 years, so there was always a massive buzz about that. I grew up on the only part of the course in the town, and whenever I got the chance to go and play the links course it was like the most exciting time.
I went to The Open, and that was the first event I ever went to in 1998 when Mark O’Meara won. That was such an influential thing in my life, it just made me want to always practice. Monday night, Tuesday night, whatever night it was, I would go to the muni and I would try and play nine holes. I would putt on the putting green with my dad. We still do that now. That’s something that never changed from when I was 7 up to now. I still love the game whether it be 18 holes or on the putting green with my dad. That time that we spent playing golf together has stuck and it’s been so good for our relationship. It’s always been a center point of my life.
Bruce: There’s a story that I read that you used to sneak onto the golf course at Royal Birkdale through a hole in the fence. The members were fully aware of this, but because of your talent, and because they knew you knew you were a good player, they just kind of let you do that. Is that is that a true story?
Tommy: I didn’t know that the members knew. I always thought we were the most stealth people on the planet and I snuck on a few times late. There’s a massive field and we would go as a family, and we’d walk the dog. And then we’d go the other way around back and it was on to the 15th hole. You can’t do it anymore. It’s just bushes and shrubs that are on the ground. But there was always this little gap and we’d try to do a putt at the right time and even if it was just like a one shot on Birkdale… it was amazing. So yes, the story is true.
Then you look 20 years later in 2017 and I was playing in The Open at Birkdale. So that was a very special moment for me where I realized my life has come full circle and I was teeing up at The Open playing with Brooks Koepka and Hideki Matsuyama in the first two rounds in my hometown. It’s funny where the game can take you.
Bruce: You did not go to college. You turned pro very early and you were the number one ranked amateur in the world, I believe, when you were 17 years old?
Tommy: I was 19 at that time. You’re being very kind to me at 17 but it took me a bit longer.
Bruce: But to be the number one amateur in the world is incredible. Something we try to teach our CGGI kids is to get the opportunity to get an education. It gives you a backdrop if they don’t turn out to be Tommy Fleetwood. Do you have any words of advice for our kids coming in here now that you know a little bit more about what the program does?
Tommy: Absolutely. And yes, I don’t want to use the word lucky, but there was luck involved. I would say I had a very clear vision and a very clear goal of what I wanted to do. And you know, I didn’t have the opportunities that some kids had and I sort of had to turn pro at an early age and make my way that way.
Having said that, I’ve lived my life at the elite end of the game. I continue to try and do my best and I’m doing okay, but I have hundreds of friends that I spent my life with playing the game of golf and whether they are now playing for fun, whether they’re a tour pro, whether they’re a coach, or whether they’re an agent, a statistician, whatever it is, there are millions of forms of golf in this world. The biggest thing about golf is what good it actually does for people, through friendships, to whatever it is.
As for an education, I would never tell my kids to do what I did. I do believe that the structure, the good habits, surrounding yourself with amazing people, the influences, all of those are a massive part of what makes you the person you are later in life. To have this is an unbelievable opportunity. I’m really excited for the people that do get to go through this and see what joy the game of golf brings them and what opportunities it gives them later on.
Bruce: This is our first year we’re going to do a European camp. We’ve got two groups of 12 young men and women coming to Congaree and then we’re taking our team to Archerfield Links, just outside of Gullane, Scotland. A lot of kids have gone to college here and gone to the European tour. Do you see them being better golfers than if they had maybe tried to turn pro early and not make it?
Tommy: I think everybody develops at a different rate. But I think that when I see younger guys, I say younger – they’re 22, 23 when they finish college – and they will come back as very well-rounded individuals. I think they have a lot of skills that don’t necessarily require the golfing talent that carries them a long way. Again, I go back to structure, belief. I go back to good habits, the way they are with people and their motivations. I feel like a lot of them come out very ready to win from a competitive aspect.
From the day I turned pro and started growing up, I always had a massive interest in this style because I never did it. It was something that I didn’t necessarily miss out on, but it was always something that fascinated me because I had gone down a different path.
Bruce: Next week is very important. You’ll leave here and you’ll go up to the hallowed grounds of Augusta National. I’ve seen you practice this week at Congaree and I’m amazed at your enthusiasm. You’re out hitting balls at 8 o’clock in the morning and you’re still hitting balls at 5 o’clock. Has Congaree shaped your practice habits? What is something that you like about our golf course that you think you can take with you?
Tommy: I like that I just walk out of my room and I’m on the chipping green. That’s one thing that’s great about it. I think the course is incredibly challenging, fast, sloping, firm. And I think when you get the opportunity to train in conditions like that, it’s rare that you can find places difficult enough to make your training hard. But when you go into competition, the courses are either similar or actually feel a little bit easier. And that’s a massive opportunity for me to use that and be out there practicing.
It’s so peaceful when you’re here. Golf is right there in front of you. There are people like you who love the game, who love hitting balls on the range and love talking about it and you have amazing conversations. And I think that for me, you know you have to get out of bed and you have to grind it out because it’s a passion, but it’s also a job and there are times when you just do what you have to do because you know you have to keep going. But when you’re surrounded by people who motivate you and inspire you and create that love for the game then that’s a massive advantage.
Bruce: Well, you’ve inspired us, Tommy. We’re very proud to have you as an Ambassador of Congaree and we wish you the best of luck and thanks for taking time to talk to our CGGI participants. You’re a great man.
Tommy: Thank you very much. I’m happy to be part of it.
Sergeant Jasper Golf Club has been a staple of the Lowcountry golf community for more than half a century, but in 2021 the course became a national beacon for access to the game.
After falling into disrepair in recent years, the historic course reopened in March 2021 under the ownership of Congaree Foundation, a philanthropic organization with a mission to positively impact the lives of young people locally and around the globe through the game of golf. Since then, Sergeant Jasper has attracted support from players at all levels of the game, including the fundraising campaign known as #RechargeTheSarge.
Initiated by PGA TOUR player and Congaree Ambassador Lucas Glover, the #RechargeTheSarge campaign was launched during the RBC Heritage in April 2021 with the goal of rehabilitating the course and supporting access to golf and instruction for youth in Jasper County, SC. By donating money for every birdie and eagle made during the tournament in nearby Hilton Head, Glover and other players, including Davis Love III, Stewart Cink, Harold Varner III, J.T. Poston and Brandt Snedeker, helped raise more than $17,000 towards Sergeant Jasper’s new irrigation system. Later in July, former PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour player Michael Sims heard about the initiative and joined the campaign by walking and playing 108 holes in one day, raising over $7,000 to support Sergeant Jasper.
Ongoing support from #RechargeTheSarge and Congaree ambassadors has already helped to transform the course. In addition to the new irrigation system, other key improvements completed in 2021 include revitalized greens, a new HVAC system and furniture in the clubhouse and golf shop, the hiring of a CSGA Superintendent, as well as new course maintenance equipment and golf carts.
Founded in the late 1960s, the course has provided quality golf for Jasper County residents for decades. While there is still more work to be done to revitalize The Sarge and allow it to reach its potential, the outpouring of support from across the country has highlighted the importance of access to the game.
“While our work is not finished, it’s been exciting to see the immediate impact that Recharge The Sarge has had on the club. It’s critical that we continue to maintain it and provide access to those who aspire to pursue their golf dreams for generations to come,” Glover said. “I’m excited to continue my support for Sergeant Jasper and rally others to this cause. Based on the success of Recharge The Sarge in 2021, I plan to bring it back during this year’s Heritage and set the bar even higher.”
From mentorship and educational opportunities to beginner golf instructions, youth programs at Sergeant Jasper Golf Club continue to thrive. For example, ahead of the Palmetto Championship at Congaree in June, Congaree Foundation hosted youth golfers from First Tee of the Lowcountry where they received instruction from Congaree professionals and had the chance to play the course.
Such initiatives have benefited both the community and Congaree Foundation, which hopes to establish The Sarge as a place that students across Lowcountry can be proud to call their home course. Looking back on the progress The Sarge made in 2021, we are one step closer to making the course a place where youth in Jasper County can play, learn, and grow – and have fun while doing it.
Cameron Guidry, a member of the Congaree Global Golf Initiative Class of 2019, was one of the most talented junior golfers in the state of Mississippi during his high school career. While competing at Picayune High School, Guidry reached No. 2 in the Junior Golf Scoreboard Mississippi rankings and captured three top 25 finishes in AJGA competitions. His accomplishments drew the attention of a number of colleges, and Guidry signed on with the University of Southern Mississippi in nearby Hattiesburg.
Q: How did you first learn about CGGI?
A: An AJGA staff member came up to me at a tournament and told me I had been selected out of the whole field to be nominated. I had to look it up later to really understand what Congaree & the CGGI were. I was kind of nervous at first because I’d have to fly and I had never flown before.
Q: What did it mean to you and your family to receive an invitation?
A: It meant a lot because not everyone has the financial means to get new clubs, take regular lessons with teaching pros, travel to any tournament and all the things that go into high-level golf. Congaree helped provide that for me to get me where I am now.
Q: Talk about your CGGI experience and what has stuck with you the most.
A: What probably stuck with me the most was that the course was much harder than I expected. The first time we played, I don’t think I made a par in the first 9 holes.
Q: How did the CGGI team help you through the college recruiting and application process? Why did you choose Southern Miss?
A: Mr. Lorne was really helpful in sending a list of colleges that would be the best fit for me. Out of all of the schools, I felt Southern Miss was the best fit for my education and my game. I liked the coach, it isn’t too far from home and there are good caliber players that I could compete with here.
Q: Talk about your experience as a college athlete?
A: First semester started off pretty easy and then we had a lot of qualifiers and exams hit at the same time. As a student-athlete, you don’t really have time to do anything other than practice and study. It’s pretty tough.
Q: How did CGGI help prepare you for success at the collegiate level?
A: When I got to Congaree, I was struggling. But the coaches really helped me with my swing and instructed me on what it took to play at the next level. With it being so early in my college career, it’s hard to tell just how much it has helped, but I probably wouldn’t be here otherwise.
Q: What are your athletic goals this season?
A: In the Spring season, my goal is to qualify for all of the tournaments. Most importantly, I want to get a ring at Regionals with my team.
Q: What are your goals after college?
A: I’m majoring in business management, but my goal is to play professional golf after college. I at least want to give it a shot and maybe play a few mini-tours or Monday qualifiers for the Korn Ferry tour to get started and see what happens.
Q: What advice do you have for any young golfers who go through CGGI in the future?
A: Be ready for a good week and take in as much as you can. It is a learning experience, so don’t get frustrated.
High school seniors had the first opportunity to make their college choices official in November, and a number of Congaree Global Golf Initiative graduates took their first steps towards competing at the next level. Twelve students signed their National Letters of Intent this month and will attend schools ranging from prestigious liberal arts colleges to large public universities.
Lanie Campbell will become the second CGGI graduate to attend Middle Tennessee State, following in the footsteps of Michael Barnard, a member of Congaree’s inaugural class. Emily Odwin, who attended CGGI virtually this summer, will join a University of Texas team that is ranked in the Top 10 nationally.
The full list of Fall 2021 signees is below:
Amelie Alcantara – CGGI class of 2021 – ECKERD COLLEGE
Slade Aliff – CGGI class of 2021 – EMORY AND HENRY
Lanie Campbell – CGGI class of 2021 – MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
Darianys Guzman – CGGI class of 2021 – HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY
Sakura Kawakami – CGGI class of 2021 – ELON UNIVERSITY
Hannah Lydic – CGGI class of 2021 – RICHMOND UNIVERSITY
Salysa Mason – CGGI class of 2020 – SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE
Sutton McMillan – CGGI class of 2021 – SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE
Emily Odwin – CGGI class of 2021 – UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
Paige Richter – CGGI class of 2021 – BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY
Lorenzo Sanz – CGGI class of 2021 – LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MARYLAND
Millie Thompson – CGGI class of 2020 – UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA
As a member of the Congaree Global Golf Initiative inaugural class in 2017, Maeve Cummins has provided an incredible example of the impact that Congaree Foundation can have on students around the world. Now a senior at CARSON NEWMAN UNIVERSITY in Tennessee, Cummins has had a stellar collegiate career from the start. In her first season, she was named First Team All-South Atlantic Conference and was the program’s first SAC Freshman of the Year. The following two seasons Cummins started in every tournament and marked the best career scoring average in school history.
The Northern Irish golfer returned to Congaree earlier this month and shared the impact that Congaree has had on her life.
Q: How did you first learn about CGGI
A: I found out when a big package arrived at my home. My mom said, “This really weird letter arrived for you. You’re not going. This isn’t real.” Then we called Bruce and he explained what the CGGI experience was all about. I still couldn’t believe it.
Q: What did it mean to you and your family to receive an invitation?
A: I had never been to the U.S., so that was cool. The thought of college had always been on my mind, but to have so much help with the process was amazing.
Q: Talk about your CGGI experience and what has stuck with you the most.
A: It’s a big week, so we didn’t have much downtime. But one thing that stuck with me was how everyone at Congaree wanted to do everything for us. Even though we were strangers, the kindness everyone showed us was the most memorable thing for me.
Q: Talk about your experience as a college athlete?
A: It feels like a job sometimes, but my team feels like another family. I’m going to Thanksgiving with one of my teammates this year. We keep in touch with the girls who graduate, too. This experience has allowed me to visit places I never could have otherwise: Indiana, the Carolinas, Florida, Mexico, Tennessee and Georgia.
Q: How did CGGI help prepare you for success at the collegiate level?
A: The academic and recruitment counselors were key in my understanding of the U.S. system. There is just so much to learn.
Q: What are your goals for your final season of college golf?
A: Our school has never made regionals, so I have my eye on that. I’m also in the running to become an All-American golfer. I was close freshman year, but I’m in the ranking requirement now, standing at 17 of the top 25.
Q: What are your goals after graduation?
A: I am on track to graduate a semester early in December. I want to continue at Carson-Newman for my MBA and then live in Knoxville afterwards. I would like to work in sports there in the future.
Q: What advice do you have for any young golfers who go through CGGI in the future?
A: Ask any and all questions that come to you. Everyone here is really helpful and knowledgeable, so there are no stupid questions. Also, wear sunscreen!
Conway, S.C., Oct. 26, 2021 — Congaree Foundation, whose mission is to positively impact the lives of young people locally and around the globe through the game of golf, today announced in partnership with Coastal Carolina University (CCU) the creation of the Congaree Foundation Scholarship for the University’s PGA Golf Management program.
Beginning with the 2022-23 academic year, the Congaree Foundation Scholarship will be awarded annually to one incoming undergraduate student at CCU. Eligible students will be entering the University as full-time, first-year students in the PGA Golf Management program, will have participated in Congaree Foundation programming, and must be South Carolina residents.
“Congaree Foundation is the heart of Congaree Golf Club and drives its philanthropic mission to positively impact the lives of young people in South Carolina and across the globe who share a passion for golf,” said Bruce Davidson, director of golf at Congaree. “We are excited to partner with Coastal Carolina University to offer the Congaree Foundation Scholarship and provide financial resources that will enable ambitious students to pursue their dreams of working in the golf industry.”
The PGA Golf Management program at CCU, established in 1999, prepares students for a successful career in the golf industry by combining academic studies and a professional golf-training curriculum. Completion of the program allows graduates to pursue careers as club or teaching professionals, golf association administrators, representatives of golf equipment manufacturers or trade publications, and many more exciting opportunities in the ever-growing golf industry.
“The Congaree Foundation Scholarship represents a great opportunity for students entering Coastal Carolina’s PGM program,” said CCU President Michael T. Benson. “We are very thankful for the Congaree Foundation’s support of the University. Together, we share a commitment to enhancing the educational opportunities for South Carolina residents.”
The scholarship will cover the recipient’s tuition and fees and can be received throughout the student’s four-year, full-time enrollment in the University’s PGA Golf Management program. Congaree Foundation will provide a list of qualified candidates to CCU each spring, from which the school will select the final scholarship recipient for the upcoming fall semester.
“We are excited and looking forward to having a young woman or man from the Congaree Foundation as part of our Coastal Carolina University and our PGA Golf Management program family,” said Will Mann, director of CCU’s PGA Golf Management program.
Coastal Carolina alumnus Mike Pruitt, who is a member of the Coastal Educational Foundation board of directors and a proponent of the Congaree Foundation Scholarship program, said: “I’ve had the good fortune of helping more than 30 students from CCU’s PGM program get internships at Grandfather Golf and Country Club in North Carolina during the past 18 years. The quality of the young people who have come through has been outstanding. It’s my hope to grow the game of golf with Congaree and Coastal forever more.”
Since its establishment in 2017, Congaree Foundation funding and programming have provided substantial benefits to South Carolina organizations such as the Lowcountry Food Bank and Boys & Girls Club of the Lowcountry, including a $167,000 grant to establish the Congaree Career Launch program for underserved youth. Its flagship collegiate preparatory program, the Congaree Global Golf Initiative, has produced more than 102 graduates from 16 countries, 95% whom have attended college and 37 age-eligible students out of 60 who have graduated high school and gone on to play collegiate golf.
For more information about Congaree Foundation, please visit HTTPS://CONGAREEFOUNDATION.ORG. To learn more about CCU’s PGA Golf Management program, please visit HTTPS://WWW.COASTAL.EDU/BUSINESS/PGA.
Like all aspects of life, college athletics has been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic due to changes in scholarship levels, recruiting rules and academics at every level. Despite these challenges, graduates of the Congaree Global Golf Initiative have continued to thrive in the classroom and on the course.
Seventeen students from the high school class of 2021 will begin their collegiate golf careers this season with student-athletes signing on to compete at schools all across the country. Two graduates will be attending the College of Charleston, giving CGGI a presence on both the school’s men’s and women’s teams. The pipeline from Ridgeland to Boca Raton, FL is continuing with Kaleb Palm becoming the third CGGI graduate to attend Florida Atlantic University. Several students also signed on to compete at Big 12 Conference schools, with Calum Scott joining Texas Tech University and Olivia McCrystal joining the University of Cincinnati, which will become part of the conference in the next few years.
The full list of collegiate golfers from the class of 2021 is below.
Cameron Johnstone: CGGI class of 2020, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
Olivia McCrystal: CGGI class of 2020, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
Tyler Mistretta: CGGI class of 2020, Florida Southern College
Antonella Omisolo: CGGI class of 2020, WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
Grant Passi: CGGI class of 2020, COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS
Calum Scott: CGGI class of 2020, TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Victoria Grace Witouski: CGGI class of 2020, UNIVERSITY OF CHARLESTON (WV)
Kaley Campbell: CGGI class of 2019, AUSTIN PEAY STATE UNIVERSITY
Cam Guidry: CGGI class of 2019, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Saketh Hegde: CGGI class of 2019, Saint Peter’s University
Fabrice Laude: CGGI class of 2019, WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Kaleb Palm: CGGI class of 2019, FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
Jake Peacock: CGGI class of 2019, WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
Shawn Sehra: CGGI class of 2019, XAVIER UNIVERSITY
Borina Sutikto: CGGI class of 2019, Santa Clara University
MK Talledo: CGGI class of 2019, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
Lucia Vasquez: CGGI class of 2019, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
Additionally, a number of CGGI graduates have received academic scholarships to attend some of America’s top universities. Harrison Hutchings has enrolled at the University of Michigan, which was recently ranked the No. 3 public school by U.S. News & World Report. Hutchings, who attended CGGI in 2018, also received the prestigious Chick Evans Scholarship. Ben Nganga, who attended CGGI virtually in 2020, earned a scholarship to attend Indiana University, which is also ranked among the top public colleges in the country.
Because of the challenges posed by COVID-19, a number of international students are continuing to have discussions with college coaches with the aim of enrolling in 2022.
Congratulations to all of these students for their outstanding accomplishments.
Lucas Glover, 2009 U.S. Open champion and three-time winner on the PGA Tour, has created a campaign to raise funds and help revitalize Sergeant Jasper Golf Club, a historic nine-hole course that was acquired by Congraree Foundation earlier this year.
Sergeant Jasper is an extension of Congaree Foundation’s mission to positively impact the lives of young people through the game of golf. Congaree Foundation will provide access to the club for local high school golf teams who will utilize Sergeant Jasper as their home course. In addition to expanding access to the game for students, the course will provide an affordable option for other Lowcountry residents and create jobs that provide an opportunity for individuals to learn new skills to equip them for careers in the region’s booming golf industry.
The campaign, dubbed #rechargethesarge by Glover on Instagram, will see Glover donate $100 for every birdie he makes this week at the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, SC. He will donate $500 for every eagle he makes.
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Davis Love III, two-time U.S. Ryder Cup captain and 21-time winner on the PGA Tour, and J.T. Poston, winner of the 2019 Wyndham Championship, are among other tour professionals who are participating.
“As an Ambassador of Congaree, and someone who is passionate about providing access to the game of golf, the efforts to help and maintain The Sarge are something that are near and dear to my heart,” Glover said. “I’m committed to putting my full energy and support behind it.”
Founded in the late 1960s, Sergeant Jasper Country Club was a world-class 18-hole facility that once hosted the likes of Jack Nicklaus. But through the years, the crowds decreased and the course was downsized to just nine holes.
CONGAREE FOUNDATION acquired the facility and it reopened March 2, 2021. The Sarge quickly has become home to three local high school teams that play at no cost and access to the course will offer an opportunity for other area high schools to create new boys and girls golf programs. The club also plans to host events for the local First Tee chapter.
Since its inception in 2016, Congaree Foundation’s efforts to improve lives through golf stretch well beyond the Lowcountry. In partnership with the award-winning Congaree Golf Club, the Foundation hosts underserved and ambitious high school students for the Congaree Global Golf Initiative.
Students from across the globe participate in an intensive, weeklong camp that provides golf instruction and college admission prep. The Foundation also supports youth golf instruction for area high school students, supports the Lowcountry Food Bank, and has partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Jasper County to launch a job readiness and career development program for area teens.
Congaree Golf Club, a Tom Fazio-design which opened in 2017 is also located in Ridgeland, South Carolina, about 30 minutes north of Savannah, Georgia. It will host the PGA TOUR’S PALMETTO CHAMPIONSHIP on June 10-13, 2021, the week before the U.S. Open.
Congaree Foundation in partnership with Congaree Golf Club is dedicated to positively impacting the lives of young people locally and around the globe through the game of golf. Today, the Foundation announced another important milestone in pursuit of its larger mission with the acquisition of Sergeant Jasper Golf Club in Ridgeland, South Carolina. The new, revamped Sergeant Jasper Golf Club will support access to the game of golf by providing a new home to area high school teams, as well as a quality public course for the Lowcountry community.
Beginning March 2, 2021, local golfers can tee off at the refreshed nine-hole course. The facility will also support local jobs and provide an opportunity for individuals to learn new skills, serving as a pipeline of talent for other public and private golf courses in the region.
When it opens, Sergeant Jasper will be home to three local high school teams that will play at no cost. Access to the course also will offer an opportunity for area high schools to establish new boys and girls golf programs. In addition, the club will host events for the local First Tee chapter.
Since its inception, Congaree Foundation has been dedicated to growing youth golf in Jasper County, and in 2018, the Foundation hosted its first ever girls golf instruction. At the time, more than 100 young women at Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School signed up. Due to the program’s overwhelming success, it was expanded to include more students from Ridgeland-Hardeeville, as well as Polaris Tech Charter School. So far, nearly 300 students have been introduced to the sport through this program.
Congaree Foundation’s efforts to improve lives through the game of golf stretch well beyond the Lowcountry. In partnership with the award-winning Congaree Golf Club, the Foundation hosts underserved and well-deserving high school students for the Congaree Global Golf Initiative. Students from across the globe, including many from South Carolina and Georgia, participate in an intensive, weeklong camp that provides golf instruction and college admission prep.
“The acquisition of Sergeant Jasper is a natural continuation of the Congaree Foundation mission – to positively impact the lives of young people locally and around the globe by providing opportunities through the game of golf,” said John McNeely, executive program director for Congaree Foundation. “The re-opening of the course reflects our commitment to serve the local community.”
Last month, the Foundation continued its ongoing support to the Jasper County community by partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry. A grant of $167,000 was donated to create the Congaree Career Launch program. This initiative will provide young adults with career and educational opportunities that will lead to economic and career stability in the future. Participants will receive their first job at a Boys & Girls Club and take courses in financial literacy, job readiness and career development training to preparethem for future career endeavors.
Founded in the late 1960s, Sergeant Jasper Country Club was a top-notch 18-hole private country club that famously hosted Jack Nicklaus. Through the years, golf crowds have decreased, and the course has downsized to nine holes. Congaree Foundation is looking forward to making Sergeant Jasper a full-service course for the entire community to enjoy.
The Congaree Foundation is dedicated to supporting our local community, and we are excited to announce a new, multi-year grant to our community partners at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry. The three-year, $167,000 grant will be used to establish and fund a job readiness and career development program called “Congaree Career Launch.” This program will connect underserved youth in Jasper County to careers and educational pathways that lead to economic stability and future success. The funding will support access and exposure to workforce opportunities in the hospitality and other industries represented in the Lowcountry region.
Key components of the Congaree Career Launch program will include:
Job Readiness/Career Development training that emphasizes the development of knowledge, attitudes and skills that prepare participants to obtain employment and succeed in their chosen field.
Money Matters, a program that helps young people learn financial literacy and independence, such as managing a checkbook, creating a budget, saving and investing, and how to pay for college.
Junior Staff program that allows Boys & Girls Club teens to be hired on a part-time basis to assist in the management and execution of many programs conducted within Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry. This provides teens hands-on work experience that can help them obtain other jobs, while providing a chance to earn money.
The Congaree Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry share a commitment to helping young people access opportunities for training and education that will lead to economic stability and independence.
“At Congaree and the Congaree Foundation, we have always been impressed by the hard work of the Boys & Girls Club and the incredible impact that they have on Jasper County’s youth. The educational and mentoring opportunities created by the Boys & Girls Club are vital, and we are honored to continue to support this important community partner,” said Bruce Davidson, Director of Golf at Congaree.
The Boys & Girls Club will work with Jasper County businesses to identify potential job opportunities for graduates of the program. Walmart, Peacock Automotive and Dominion Energy have indicated an interest in becoming corporate partners with the program.
“It is my pleasure to support an initiative that focuses on developing the career potential of our teens in Jasper County,” said Warner Peacock, President and CEO of Peacock Automotive. “As a local business owner, I personally know the value of having a qualified workforce in our community. I’m glad to be able to contribute to a program which furthers that effort.”
“With the partnership of the Congaree Foundation we believe we can create an integrated curriculum/program that will greatly benefit the underserved youth of Jasper County, while at the same time fulfill our shared mission,” said Chris Protz, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry.
