The Lundy-Fetterman School of Business, PGA Golf Management program sent five students — Harrison Graham (Sr.), Nolan Hesko (Sr.), Jackson Wredberg (So.), Angelo Cafaro (Sr.), and Tyler Sprague (Sr.) — to compete in the 20th PGA University Championship, November 14th and 15th at Bear’s Best Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV.
The 36-hole Championship featured 90 players on 18 teams (five from each school) from PGA Golf Management University Programs across the country.
“The PGA University Championship is a special competition among talented PGA Golf Management students,” said PGA President John Lindert. “These students represent the next generation of PGA Professionals and are a big reason why the future of golf has never been brighter.”
These five gentlemen earned the right to represent Campbell through the program’s semester-long tournament series.
The 18 teams competed for the Jones Cup, which is named after the first PGA Golf Management University Program Director at Mississippi State, Dr. S. Roland Jones, who held the position from 1985 until his passing in 1997. The event provides a platform for participants to display professionalism, integrity, character and camaraderie—all characteristics Dr. Jones instilled in PGA Golf Management students.
“Playing in the PGA University Championship was a fantastic experience,” said Jackson Wredberg. “It was an honor to represent my university and play alongside my fellow aspiring professionals in such a prestigious event.”
Playing on a team is a unique experience for golfers, who typically compete as individuals. Angelo Cafaro summed it up this way, “For the first time in a long time, I was playing a high-level event with a strong team which was very exciting. I am honored to have been able to compete in the PGA University Championship. I am very proud of my teammates and want to extend a huge thanks to our very own, Kevin Nagy, for being an exceptional coach.”
Kevin Nagy serves as the Assistant Director and Internship Coordinator for the program. This is his third trip to the University Championship, representing Campbell once as a student and twice as a coach. “This is the first trip where Campbell didn’t return with the Jones Cup,” Kevin said. “But I’m proud of the way our team battled, particularly in the second round.”
The Campbell team moved up nine spots on the leaderboard during the second round to finish in fifth place.
New Mexico State shot an impressive score of 581 to earn their fourth victory by ten shots. They have the second most victories in the history of the event behind Campbell’s six.
“Campbell University has a history of producing students that play at a high level,” said Program Director, Gabriella Story. “Having a credible golf game is a vital skill that our students take into the industry after graduation.”
Campbell will look to capture its seventh victory when they return to the PGA University Championship in November 2023.