AKRON, Ohio — Student athletes from two historically Black universities attended a special event at Firestone Country Club ahead of a championship event at the club. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Bridgestone Senior Players Championship begins July 7 at Firestone Country Club in Akron

  • A VIP event was hosted for student golfers from Wilberforce University and Kentucky State University

  • Student athletes were able to tee off on the north course

  • Athletes were also able to receive a backstage tour and meet a few senior players

The Bridgestone Senior Players Championship tees off July 7. Senior players like John Daly and Ernie Els are among a few of the athletes who will compete.

Firestone Country Club hosted an event for golfers from Wilberforce University and Kentucky State University ahead of the tournament. Members of both teams got the chance to tee off on the north course and received a behind-the-scenes tour of the club.

Correy Lynn-Patton, an incoming freshman at Wilberforce University, said he is excited to be on the golf team and just soaked up the entire event.

“Just experience, just playing different courses and seeing how a game travels and just being here with great people,” he said. 

Wilberforce golf coach William Ware said he wasn’t exposed much to the sport of golf as a young person because of racial barriers.

“It really was hard because I didn’t have anyone around me to tell me about golf or to show me about golf in my high school,” Ware said. 

Wilberforce is in Wilberforce Ohio, just outside of Dayton.