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Steph Curry brings back college golf at Howard, pledges support for 6 years

AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

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WASHINGTON – Steph Curry announced Monday he’s supporting men’s and women’s golf teams at Howard University for the next six years, the first time the school will compete at the Division I level in the sport.

Howard plans to have the teams in place for the 2020-2021 academic year. Resources have been allocated for talent scouting, training and coaching to relaunch the program quickly.

The Golden State Warriors star was inspired by a meeting with Howard senior and golfer Otis Ferguson IV during a campus visit earlier this year. Curry came to Howard for a screening of his documentary film, Emanuel, in January.

Curry spent some time with a group of students that left a big impression on him. “Every student had a passion, a vision something they wanted to do to change something at Howard, something they wanted to do to change the world,” Curry said Monday at a news conference at Langston Golf Course. “Hearing each one of their stories was empowering and encouraging.

“Otis, we connected in golf in terms of our passion for the game, in terms of what the game has taught both of us,” Curry said. “The idea of recreating Howard’s golf team, turning it into a Division I program for men and women was born that night.”

Ferguson was on hand Monday morning to celebrate the announcement of the teams’ launch. On that night in January, Ferguson simply asked Curry if he wanted to play golf sometime. The NBA star gave him his email address and Ferguson followed up.

steph curry howard university

From left, Howard University Athletic Director Kery Davis, Howard student Otis Ferguson, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Callaway Golf Company CEO Oliver Brewer III, and Howard University President Wayne Frederick pose for photographs together following a news conference at Langston Golf Course in Washington on Aug. 19. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

“It’s amazing,” Ferguson said Monday, “to have one of my dreams come true.”

Taught to play by his dad Dell as a kid, Curry has played in the Ellie May Classic, a stop on the Korn Ferry Tour, and has talked about how his golf game has “haunted” him. Monday he spoke about his love for the game and his attention on growing it in the African-American community.

“Golf is a sport that has changed my life in ways that are less tangible, but just as impactful,” Curry said in a release. “It’s a discipline that challenges your mental wherewithal from patience to focus, and is impossible to truly master, so when you hear about these passionate student athletes who have the talent but don’t have a fair shot at the game, it’s tough. I feel really honored to play a small role in the rich history of Howard University.”

The school previously had a Division II golf program that shut down decades ago.

Curry has called on some of his partnerships to help build the program including Under Armour. The grow the game initiative is part of his Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation.  Callaway will provide equipment for the new teams.

Howard athletics director Kery Davis said the plan is to offer three scholarships initially (two for women and one for a male golfer). He would not say how much Curry is donating to the school, although a Washington Post report estimated the number is in seven figures. “Put it like this, it’s more than a ltitle,” Davis said.

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