Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans to Be Well-Represented at THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational and Sports Business Summit
6/26/2021 10:38:00 AM | Men's Golf
Michigan State will have prominent representation at THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational presented by Rocket Mortgage in Detroit. Rising senior Troy Taylor II and Andrew Walker, who graduated in the spring, will both compete in the inaugural event at Detroit Golf Club, this Sunday and Monday (June 27-28). In conjunction with the tournament, THE JOHN SHIPPEN Sports Business Summit will be held June 29-30 and feature Dr. Ashley Baker, MSU Athletics' chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer.
The golf tournament, designed to showcase Black collegiate and professional golfers, is named after John Shippen, Jr., who was both the first U.S.-born golf professional and the first Black golf professional.
The men's division will be individual stroke play, and the winner will receive an exemption into the PGA Tour's Rocket Mortgage Classic (July 1-4), which will also take place at Detroit Golf Club. The women's division will compete in a two-player team format, with the winning duo earning an exemption into the LPGA's Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational (July 14-17), which is also played as a team event.
"It's an awesome opportunity. I feel very blessed to be chosen for this inaugural event," Taylor said. "There are a lot of talented players in the field, so whoever plays well and wins will be very well-deserving. The odds are better than if it were a huge tournament, but you still have to play some very good golf to win."
"It's definitely an awesome opportunity and I'm really looking forward to it," Walker said. "Being able to represent the state of Michigan and MSU is a pretty good opportunity coming right out of college."
With two of the 21 players in the men's tournament coming from Michigan State, Taylor II and Walker are excited to showcase the program's diversity.
"I think it's a really strong statement about our golf program," Taylor said. "Representing Michigan State with two African-American golfers says a lot and I just feel very blessed to get this opportunity."
"It shows not only the caliber of players we have, but also speaks to the diversity of our team and steps we've taken as a program," Walker said. "It's really cool when you look at it.
"It's one of the biggest opportunities I've ever had, and I'm really looking forward to it."
Dr. Baker will lead a session discussing the importance of the sports industry's commitment to diversity and will highlight the responsibility of employers and employees on DEI efforts within our organizations.
"THE JOHN SHIPPEN is a vehicle designed to increase diversity and to identify the historical barriers that exist to limit Black representation in the sport of golf," Dr. Baker said. "I am honored to be a part of a movement for necessary change. The sports business summit fills an important need to create awareness of opportunities within the sports industry for high school and college students of color."
CBS will air a one-hour special about THE JOHN SHIPPEN leading into final-round coverage of the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Sunday, July 4.
Several individuals in the sports industry with ties to Michigan State will also take part in THE JOHN SHIPPEN Sports Business Summit, including former MSU athletics director Mark Hollis; former football student-athlete and athletic department staff member Ashton Henderson; current UCLA athletics director and former MSU assistant athletics director for development Martin Jarmond; MSU graduate and former athletic department graduate assistant Lauren Clayborne; and former MSU assistant athletics director Tracy Ellis-Ward.
The golf tournament, designed to showcase Black collegiate and professional golfers, is named after John Shippen, Jr., who was both the first U.S.-born golf professional and the first Black golf professional.
The men's division will be individual stroke play, and the winner will receive an exemption into the PGA Tour's Rocket Mortgage Classic (July 1-4), which will also take place at Detroit Golf Club. The women's division will compete in a two-player team format, with the winning duo earning an exemption into the LPGA's Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational (July 14-17), which is also played as a team event.
"It's an awesome opportunity. I feel very blessed to be chosen for this inaugural event," Taylor said. "There are a lot of talented players in the field, so whoever plays well and wins will be very well-deserving. The odds are better than if it were a huge tournament, but you still have to play some very good golf to win."
"It's definitely an awesome opportunity and I'm really looking forward to it," Walker said. "Being able to represent the state of Michigan and MSU is a pretty good opportunity coming right out of college."
With two of the 21 players in the men's tournament coming from Michigan State, Taylor II and Walker are excited to showcase the program's diversity.
"I think it's a really strong statement about our golf program," Taylor said. "Representing Michigan State with two African-American golfers says a lot and I just feel very blessed to get this opportunity."
"It shows not only the caliber of players we have, but also speaks to the diversity of our team and steps we've taken as a program," Walker said. "It's really cool when you look at it.
"It's one of the biggest opportunities I've ever had, and I'm really looking forward to it."
Dr. Baker will lead a session discussing the importance of the sports industry's commitment to diversity and will highlight the responsibility of employers and employees on DEI efforts within our organizations.
"THE JOHN SHIPPEN is a vehicle designed to increase diversity and to identify the historical barriers that exist to limit Black representation in the sport of golf," Dr. Baker said. "I am honored to be a part of a movement for necessary change. The sports business summit fills an important need to create awareness of opportunities within the sports industry for high school and college students of color."
CBS will air a one-hour special about THE JOHN SHIPPEN leading into final-round coverage of the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Sunday, July 4.
Several individuals in the sports industry with ties to Michigan State will also take part in THE JOHN SHIPPEN Sports Business Summit, including former MSU athletics director Mark Hollis; former football student-athlete and athletic department staff member Ashton Henderson; current UCLA athletics director and former MSU assistant athletics director for development Martin Jarmond; MSU graduate and former athletic department graduate assistant Lauren Clayborne; and former MSU assistant athletics director Tracy Ellis-Ward.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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