Kinesiology, Recreation & Sport

BOWLING GREEN, Ky—Western Kentucky University’s Department of Kinesiology Recreation and Sport partnered with the Collegiate Gold Alliance (CGA) and Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) to host an on campus golf expo and local qualifier for the PGA’s Play Golf America University Program and CGA’s National Collegiate Golf Championship program.  The expo was held Wednesday, October 9, 2013 on WKU’s South Lawn. The expo brought 215 students out for a chance to win prizes, test their skills on the challenge courses, receive free mini lessons from a PGA professional and learn how they could qualify to win a free trip to the CGA’s National Collegiate Golf (NCGC) Championship in Las Vegas.

The expo was a preliminary event to get students aware of our program here at WKU and learn about the upcoming tournament. This year WKU’s PGAU Program will host the 5^th Annual CGA Student Qualifier. The tournament is a two-person scramble that will be held Saturday, April 19, 2014, at The Golf Course at River View (Paul Walker) in Bowling Green, KY. All college students are welcome to participate. The winning WKU team will receive a FREE trip to CGA’s National Collegiate Golf Championship held in Las Vegas June 30-July 2, 2014.

Collegiate Golf Alliance and The PGA are partners in helping to further promote golf on college campuses. Together they have helped over 750 Universities, 50-80 local qualifiers and campus expos and host the largest collegiate golf event in the world.  As a way to gain maximum exposure for the PGAU/NCGC program, both on a campus and nationally, participating schools will conduct an on Campus Golf Expo. 

“We are excited about the growth and expansion of the NCGC program and believe changing the championship from November to July will allow more universities the chance to host a Qualifier and participate in the National Championship. It was time to Turn Up the Heat on the NCGC Program,” stated CGA President and CEO Mike Munson.

The tournament will be shotgun start at 9:00am, $65 per team. Registration will include cart fee, breakfast, lunch, t-shirt, prizes, contests and more!  Registration window will end Friday, April, 11, 2014. You can register online at: www.cgagolflinks.com. OR contact Tournament Director, Dawn Wientjes for registration information.  

About CGA

CGA was formed by a group of recreational professionals from two major Universities on the West Coast with an extensive background and passion for golf. The purpose of the CGA is to provide the resources and services for the development of golf programs primarily on college campus. Tools and resources are available to help develop golf programs, affiliate golf interest clubs, lessons, clinics, fundraising tournaments, non -competitive outings, and social functions in your community.

About Play Golf America University

Play Golf America University, formerly GOLF: For Business & Life, is a PGA of America college and university golf program, designed to teach and engage students in the game of golf through PGA Professional instruction and other golf programs. Since being launched, The PGA of America has distributed $7.3 million to 76 participating colleges and universities throughout the United States, including $6.1 million on behalf of members of U.S. Ryder Cup Teams as a means to support this initiative. Through 2008, PGA Professionals have provided instruction to more than 27,000 college students through Play Golf America University.  Western Kentucky University students have benefitted tremendously from Hall of Famer Kenny Perry’s 2008 Ryder Cup experience donation of $90,000. The donation was part of the 2008 Ryder Cup Outreach Program, used to launch a Play Golf America University program at WKU. Perry said he was honored to use his Ryder Cup participation to benefit his alma mater. Perry, who played golf at WKU from 1979-82, was inducted into the WKU Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2007, WKU’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.

For additional information regarding the CGA Qualifier Tournament and PGAU Program please contact WKU CGA/PGAU Intern, Dawn Wientjes at 618.638.5682, dawn.wientjes919@topper.wku.edu. Or PGAU Program Director, Dr. Darren Smith at 270.745.3175, Darren.smith@wku.edu.