NBA player Stephen Curry’s “Underrated” golf tour stopped in the CSRA this weekend.
Around 100 players competed at Old Barnwell Golf Club in Aiken.
The purpose of the tour is to help increase diversity in the game of golf. It provides opportunities for diverse student athletes to play at prestigious courses across the country.
“Underrated” golf tour is we pretty much want to be the conduit for growing the game of golf and also growing through the game of golf,” tour ambassador, Will Lowery says. “It’s a tour that is for those that come from a different clubhouse. We just want to make sure that we can help increase that participation level and the competitive golf space amongst, basically, when it comes to black and browns for everybody. But, we really want to make sure that we really harp on the numbers where it shows lack of diversity.”
Junior golfers get a chance to play with peers from all over the country and make everlasting friends.
“It’s been so cool, I’ve made so many connections from “Underrated,” junior golfer, Jordan Brown says. “Although it’s only during the summer, the underrated tour season, I see so many of my friends now…just whenever I play different tournaments in the winter, spring, whatever. It’s just been such a great opportunity for me to meet new people.”
Playing golf and making connections. But, Lowery says there’s a third piece.
“When we think about the “Underrated” tour…obviously golf is important, but we we really want to add emphasis on the educational component to this,” Lowery says. “We have panel discussions intro introducing the kids to some of Steph’s, Rolodex as friends and, you know, wanna make sure that these kids get a leg up on the career space. Maybe be a north star for some of these kids or maybe it sparks something that they can probably entertain outside of playing professional golf.”
Whether you birdie or bogey, fun is always encouraged while on the course.
“It’s the most important thing in golf because a lot of times, it’s hard mentally when you’re playing bad and then you put extra stress on yourself,” junior golfer, Meyher Khokhar says. “I mean, you’re already stressed that you’re playing bad and now you’re like, “oh my God, I’m playing big tournament.” And we forget that. At the end of the day, it’s just a sport. And today, I’m playing bad, but tomorrow I won’t be, or the day after that I won’t be. And you forget how much hard work you’re putting into it. So I think it’s the most important thing to just have fun.”