Wednesday, May 23, 2012
PRINCESS ANNE, MD-(May 22, 2012) The University of Maryland Eastern Shore will host one of the premier junior golf events in the region June 11-12. The Art Shell UMES Junior Tournament, held in conjunction with the Art Shell UMES Celebrity Golf Classic, will feature golf seminars, hands-on education and golf-themed entertainment for youths aged 5-18.
“This is the fourth year of the tournament,” said Jamila Johnson, who oversees the junior event and serves as the head men’s golf coach and academic service coordinator for the university’s Professional Golf Management program. “The students who have played in this event have been better prepared for the golf industry and for enrolling in a PGM program. Several of the seniors who played in our event enrolled in a program at one of the 20 schools nationwide that offer it.”
The event starts on Monday, June 11, where junior golfers and their parents will attend educational and informational workshops about requirements for a college education, professional athletes and the careers within golf management. These workshops will give students and parents the insight to help with their pursuit of golf as a vocation, Johnson said.
The following day, Tuesday, June 12, is tournament day. Students will have a chance to compete against their peers. UMES will present awards that evening to participants at the Blues & Bar-B-Q Celebrity Pairing Party, where they will mingle with former NFL and golf greats and some of the business leaders of the golf industry.
“My alma mater continues to reach students, many of whom are first-generation college students and for whom college may have been out of reach due to limited resources,” said NFL Hall of Famer Art Shell, namesake for the event. “That is why, in times like these, it is as important as ever to rally together to support students who desire more, and who can achieve more, if just given the opportunity.”
Registration is $50 for local students and $150 for students who opt to stay on campus. There is a fee for adult chaperones. For more information or to register, call 410-651-7773.
The PGA Golf Management Program at UMES prepares students for a career in the golf industry. The PGA Golf Management Program attracts and educates highly-motivated men and women to service all aspects of this developing industry while also working toward membership in the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. It is a comprehensive degree program that integrates all curriculum requirements of a Hotel & Restaurant Management major with the knowledge base of the PGA Golf Management Program, including 16 months of structured internship experience and a Playing Ability Test.
Stan Bradley, assistant director, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, 410-651-6499, gsbradley@mes.edu
Gail Stephens, assistant director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-651-7580, gcstephens@umes.edu.x
