CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/31068
The Methodist University men’s and women’s golf teams combined have won an astounding 33 national titles since 1986. The Monarchs won nine titles between 1990 and 1999. Even during the national title “drought” as Methodist men’s golf coach Steve Conley calls it between 2000 and 2009, the Monarchs remained one of the top teams in the country and contenders for National Championships. Methodist’s remarkable run is even more incredible given the level at which the Monarchs compete. As a NCAA Division III program, Methodist doesn’t provide athletic scholarships, putting those programs at a disadvantage when trying to recruit standout student athletes. “If you do some research in NCAA Division III, Methodist golf and Kenyon swimming would be considered the dynasties, but that’s really it,” said Methodist Director of Athletics Bob McEvoy. Building a dynasty So how did this happen? How did the little private university on Ramsey Street come to rule NCAA Division III golf? Thank longtime Methodist University administrator Gene Clayton for that. Clayton, a former coach and director of athletics at the school, spearheaded an effort to bring a Professional Golf Management degree program to the university. Designed to train future golf professionals and facility managers, Professional Golf Management degree curriculums had helped other smaller colleges make up for the absence of scholarship money by attracting talented golfers. Clayton took notice of this and in 1986, Methodist became the only NCAA Division III program in the country accredited by the Professional Golfer’s Association. To this day, the university has one of just 20 PGA-accredited Professional Golf Management Programs. “I think you have to look at the foresight of Gene Clayton to find a niche program that really could help drive enrollment numbers,” McEvoy said. The initial goal of Methodist’s PGM program was just that — to attract more students. Attracting some of the best golf talent from every corner of the country was the unintended perk. The Lady Monarchs’ first national title came the first year of the PGM program. They went on to take eight of the next nine National Championships, which were awarded by the National Golf Coaches Association until 1996. Methodist men’s coach Steve Conley Opposite | Justin Roberto Top left | Taylor Lanning Above | Mike Wesko CityViewNC.com | 49