From Public Relations
Dillard earned an exemption into the Korn Ferry Tour’s REX Hospital Open, June 3-6, at TPC Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, N.C.
Dillard, who had two top-10 finishes in three starts on the APGA Tour as an amateur, solidified his spot atop the APGA Collegiate Ranking when he finished tied for 28th in his final college start at the NCAA Division I Tallahassee Regional.
“I am super proud of him and how hard he has worked,” said Mike Rice, FAMU head golf coach. “I am also proud to have three other guys finish inside the top five. These players have continued to improve all season and have excelled on and off the golf course.”
Dillard’s achievement wasn’t the lone FAMU accomplishment as his teammates, Mahindra Lutchman (third), Cameron Riley (fourth) and Prince Cunningham (fifth), also finished inside the top five. Michigan State’s Andrew Walker earned the second spot to round out the inaugural class of the APGA Collegiate Ranking.
All five players receive APGA Tour membership and entry into this season’s tournaments, starting with the APGA Tour event at TPC Louisiana, May 31-June 1.
“The path of professional golf has never been stronger for Black golfers, and I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for the top players in this year’s APGA Collegiate Ranking,” said Ken Bentley, co-founder and CEO of the APGA Tour. “This year’s inaugural class is an important step forward as the APGA Tour continues to grow and provide opportunities in professional golf to Black players.”
The APGA Collegiate Ranking was announced in October 2020 through a partnership between PGA Tour University and the APGA Tour. Eligible players are Black golfers from NCAA Division I, II or III programs – including HBCUs – who exhaust a minimum of four years of college eligibility.