And there they both were at Detroit Golf Club on Monday, the very symbols of why the John Shippen National Invitational was molded into reality this year.
Named after the first American-born golf professional and also the country’s first Black pro, the Shippen’s organizers are looking to provide top-level pro golf experiences for Black golfers.
In a men’s field of 21 invitees, O’Neal—a journeyman from Savannah, Ga., who has been playing on various pro tours for two decades—emerged as the winner, backing up his opening-round 71 with a 67 on Monday to beat Kevin Hall by two shots.
The women played in two-person teams, and the winners were Shasta Averyhardt and Anita Uwadia, who scored 73-68 to finish at three under.
Following the end of the women’s tournament, the John Shippen Shoot-Out was held as a three-hole individual competition among the six women who finished directly behind the winners.
O’Neal’s last start on the PGA Tour was in the 2019 Genesis Invitational at Riviera, and his biggest foray into top-level competition was qualifying for the 2015 U.S.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time.
Averythardt, a Jackson State alum, got her conditional LPGA Tour card in 2010 Q-School, but, while battling injuries, she wasn’t able to keep her status, and she last played on the LPGA in 2013.
So we’re going to stay in the present and just stay in the moment and really just one shot at a time.
She is set to play college golf at USC, though she has signed up for LPGA Q-School and would likely turn pro if she earns her card.
IF YOU ARE A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT AND WOULD LIKE TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO OPT-OUT OF THIRD-PARTY DATA SHARING, YOU MAY DO SO HERE: DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION.