For the second year in a row and in only its third year in existence, the Howard University men’s golf team has won the PGA Works Collegiate Championship title, with the Bison men dominating on the green to win by an astounding 57 strokes. 

On Wednesday, the Bison became back-to-back Division I champions at Shoal Creek in Birmingham, Alabama, winning the three-day tournament by 25-under 835 to the runners-up from North Carolina A&T State.

Three HU students finished in the top three spots at the Championship. Everett Whiten Jr., a senior, won the tournament with a 14-under par (201) performance. He shot eight-under-par (64) in the last round with no bogeys.

“It’s been good vibes all week, and I knew the course was gettable if I just stayed patient,” Whiten said to PGA. “I’m so proud of my guys. It’s been a long year, but we came here knowing what we had to do and trusted the process.”

After shooting five-under-par (210) in three rounds, two-time PWCC Champion Gregory Odom Jr. came in second place. Marcus Smith finished four-under for the Championship, PGA reports.

This incredible moment comes on the heels of the HU Division 1 men’s and women’s golf teams’ debut during the 2020-2021 academic school year.

“I feel like if you prepare properly and you execute by trusting the process, things like this can happen,” Howard Head Coach Sam Puryear told PGA. “This is a byproduct of a lot of hard work, a lot of personal belief, a lot of sacrifice.”

In 2019, NBA star Steph Curry announced his six-year commitment to support Howard’s golf program.

“[Golf is] a discipline that challenges your mental wherewithal from patience to focus, and is impossible to truly master, so when you hear about these passionate student-athletes who have the talent but don’t have a fair shot at the game, it’s tough,” Curry told The Dig. “I feel really honored to play a small role in the rich history of Howard University, and look forward to building their first men’s and women’s golf teams with them.”

2023 has been a historic year for the renowned HBCU’s athletics. For the first time in 34 years, the men’s swim and diving team won a conference title. For the first time in 31 years, the men’s basketball team made the NCAA Tournament. Not to mention the ladies: Howard’s women’s basketball team won the MEAC title last season for the first time in 21 years.

As the men’s golf team celebrates its championship win, we can only expect more success from what the Bison do next.

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