NJCAA Golf is well represented in the 2008 Ryder Cup Matches

Although this week’s commentators on ESPN & NBC most likely will not recognize that a number of high profile golfers in this year’s Ryder Cup matches originated their college golf careers on the 2-year college golf level, the National Junior College Athletic Association is well represented. Whether a player spends two years at a 2-year college and transfers to 4-year Universities and stays for half the season or receives their bachelor’s degree, the television commentators usually forget to mention the success these professional golfers enjoyed at the two-year college level.

Representing the USA, Chad Campbell played golf for Midland College, an NJCAA Division-1 multi-year National Champion. However in his Ryder Cup bio, only his 4-year college, University of Nevada - Las Vegas is mentioned. If you look at the European side, Soren Hansen from Denmark doesn’t have anything noted for his college background. Soren was a student/athlete for Central Alabama Community College for two years and a member of the NJCAA Division-1 National Championship Team for CACC in 1996. However, good ole’ Boo Weekley does indeed note that Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, in Georgia was in his college background.

I don’t know if it is up to the player or the agent of the player to fill in the blanks of their biographies in these events and on their respective Tour websites. I do feel that it is a slap in the face of the 2-year colleges to be forgotten by these players after allowing them the opportunity to start their college golf careers and lay the groundwork to their present successes.

Another major factor in this year’s Ryder Cup is USA Captain, Paul Azinger. Paul graduated from Florida State University but before his final years at FSU, Paul learned how to really play competitive golf for Brevard Community College in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Whether it is because I now coach on the 2-year college level, whether I just enjoyed college golf more in junior college than on the University level, or it could be that I’m pulling hard for the forgotten institutions who need the recognition that they deserve, but I sure am frustrated with the lack of notoriety our junior college athletes and the athletic programs receive from the media.

Along with my complaining, I do applaud Boo Weekley, Bubba Watson, Tjaart van der Walt, and a very small group of PGA Tour players who include the 2-year college programs that gave them their start within their biographies.

There have been some huge people in the golf industry who have Captained USA Teams in the past, let’s see how this year’s Captain – Paul Azinger, who started in the 2-year college golf level fairs. We’ll watch to see how well Soren Hansen plays against our American squad. Let’s keenly enjoy pulling for Boo as he nonchalantly works his way around the course this week in Kentucky. Keep a close eye on Chad Campbell, as he is one of the most competitive players on the PGA Tour.

It will be a fun week to watch golf. I hope some of my notes and notices have made it to the ESPN & NBC commentators. Maybe they will note where some of these golfers got their start. We’ll just have to see.

Dave JenningsHead Golf Coach
Central Alabama Community College