Each summer during the Congaree Global Golf Initiative, students create a plan to achieve their collegiate goals, and this fall, 17 Congaree Kids will be making their dreams a reality.
Students of the 2023 graduating class are enrolling in colleges across the country in the coming weeks with 11 continuing their golf careers at some of the country’s top programs. Krystal Li, a 2022 attendee and Canada native, will be attending Rutgers University to compete in the Big 10, one of the strongest conferences in women’s golf. NaShawn Tyson from Stuart, FL has committed to Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Tyson is the third CGGI graduate to compete for the Owls, joining Marc Kaneko-Fujii (2018) and Kaleb Palm (2019). Haven Ward, a 2022 CGGI student from Atlanta, GA, is joining the No. 40-ranked University of Denver Pioneers, a program that appealed to her thanks to their history of success and strong academics.
“Haven is a standout athlete and golfer,” PIONEER’S WOMEN’S GOLF HEAD COACH MARTHA RICHARDS SAID. “Playing multiple sports growing up will be such an asset for her as she moves forward in her career. She has accomplished so much already, but her best golf is still in front of her and to sign such a terrific athlete is so exciting for me. I believe the sky is the limit for her.”
A number of CGGI students opted to focus exclusively on academic pursuits, rather than continuing competitive golf and will be attending prestigious schools including the University of Oklahoma and Arizona State University. Jones Saylor from Bluffton, SC is enrolling in Coastal Carolina’s PGA Golf Management program and is the inaugural recipient of the Congaree Foundation Scholarship.
“This year’s enrolling freshmen are as impressive academically as they are athletically, as evidenced by the caliber of institutions they have been accepted into,” said Ed Graf, CGGI Academic Advisor and College Admissions Consultant. “Some of this group had opportunities to play collegiate golf but made the decision to pursue higher academic interests instead. We are proud to have helped them achieve their goals in the classroom and know that they will use the game of golf to further their college and professional careers.”
The Congaree Foundation network of Ambassadors, partners, and supporters are thrilled for each student and look forward to following each one’s collegiate success on and off the course.
The full list of collegiate golfers from the class of 2023 is below.
*Denotes collegiate golfer
