In 2019, four-time NBA Champion and two-time most valuable player (MVP) Stephen Curry committed to six years of supporting Howard University’s golf program to debut as a Division 1 NCAA team back in 2019. Before the commitment, the university touted a Division II program as well as various intercollegiate and intramural club teams.
With a great interest in the sport of golf, Curry took his passions off the court and onto the field with the Bison golfers. He planned to introduce and increase access to elite golf resources, calling on sports and community giants including Under Armor, Callaway, and Eat. Learn. Play., among others, for help with equipment, uniforms, and more.
“I think the Howard program, in general, is going to give them, not just them, but kids coming up through the ranks, a vision of what they can be in terms of playing golf competitively and the doors it can open for them,” Curry told ABC 7 news.
However, a commitment is only as good as its follow through, so how has the team fared since then? For starters, the Bison proved their commitment to a winning future with the signing of Sam Puryear as the Head Director of Golf. Puryear’s coaching resume is extensive, having won a national championship, Big Ten championship, two Coach of the Year honors, two Conference Carolina titles, and two South Atlantic Conference titles in his time before Howard.
In regards to the teams themselves, a ton of growth has been seen. The Howard University men’s golf 2021-2022 season closed with the team placing third in the 2021 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) golf Championship at the par-72, 7,188-yard Bryan Park Golf Club course. The Bison finished third out of the four-team field and finished the first round in second. Howard University women’s golf team finished the season after taking fifth overall at the PGA Works Collegiate Championships after shooting 111-over par (975) in the three-day tournament.
Recently, the team hosted the Bison at the Beach Inaugural Golf Classic, a fundraising event joined by Stephen Curry, Howard alumni and the Board of Trustees. With the fundraiser, the golf program raised over $3 million dollars.
The Bison are looking forward to another season under the wing of Curry and his team, and are excited for what the future holds for the rest of their partnership.
Copy edited by Chanice McClover-Lee
