In its inception in 1960, the Skyview Golf Tournament was exclusively for Black golfers.
It was integrated in Year Two, but its legacy as the country’s longest Black-owned and operated professional golf tournament remains. This season, that legacy will see a new development as four HBCU golfers will compete in the tournament for the first time.
With a history of preparing Black golfers for the PGA Tour, including professionals like Lee Elder, the 64th Skyview Tournament will be bringing the next generation of Black golfers to compete Tuesday through Thursday.
“The history of the Skyview, that was where Black golfers were able to play,” said Mark Latham, director of programs at First Tee – Central Carolina. “Now, these kids are the next generation of HBCU golfers, of Black golfers, coming up. It’s going to be important for them to see and learn the history.”
The golfers are part of an internship with First Tee, a non-profit whose mission is to teach golf to youth who would not be exposed to the sport otherwise. While it is based in Greensboro, it also has outreach in Western North Carolina and holds classes at Asheville Municipal Golf Course, where the Skyview Tournament is held.
The internship program, which is in its second year, consists of 10 golfers who all play golf at HBCUs. Interns work as coaches teaching younger golfers.
In June, the interns competed in a friendly play-in to determine which four would earn spots to compete at the tournament.
“With our reach being in Asheville, we wanted to do something with the Skyview, with the history of the tournament, because all of our interns are minorities and go to historically Black colleges and universities,” Latham said.
Jesse Williams and Derrius Gillis of Miles College, Marcus Leonard of Alabama State and Tyler Thomas of Winston-Salem State took the four spots to play in the Skyview Tournament. The golfers will compete in the professional division as amateurs, meaning they won’t be eligible for prize money.
“To be able to play in an event, the first event where African Americans were allowed to be there, it feels like I’m participating in a part of history,” Thomas said. “I’m able to contribute to that cause that happened years and years ago.”
First Tee will be covering the expenses for the golfers to compete. Thomas said the cost of golf has historically been a barrier in the sport, limiting those who have the talent but can’t afford the tournaments.
Gillis first started golfing as a way to build his relationship with his grandfather. Now competing at Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama, Gillis said competing in Skyview is a way to show younger golfers the opportunities Black golfers still have.
“You can have the same goals or the same mindset as anybody else,” Gillis said. “You don’t have to limit yourself to any possibilities. The future is what you make it.”
The tournament is steeped in history, particularly for Black golfers, adding an extra layer to the importance of the HBCU golfers competing.
“I really hope it inspires them to want to keep playing,” Latham said. “All the opportunities they have being HBCU golfers stem from the Skyview.”
Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at egerike@citizentimes.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @EvanGerike. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Skyview Golf Tournament to host four HBCU golfers for 64th tournament
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