The big winner of the PXG College Golf Showcase was once again charity.
The second annual event at Scottsdale National Golf Club aimed to elevate collegiate golfers and PGA Tour University while also benefiting military-focused foundations was shot last month but aired Wednesday night on Golf Channel. The teams, led by playing captains actor and Marine veteran Rob Riggle and Hall of Fame NFL running back Jerome Bettis, were filled with some of the nation’s best college golfers – for now – and the players didn’t disappoint.
Riggle’s Semper Fi & America’s Fund team, featuring Oklahoma State’s Eugenio Chacarra, Washington’s RJ Manke and Duke’s Gina Kim, were down big at the turn to Bettis’ team representing Mount Sinai, comprised of Arkansas’ Brooke Matthews, SMU’s Noah Goodwin and Oklahoma’s Logan McAllister, but fought back down the stretch. Ultimately, it was Riggle’s squad coming out on top in the end with $512,500 to the Semper Fi fund, just ahead of Mount Sinai with $487,500.
The tagline for the event is, “Elite college golfers should be household names.” While that’s true, if you’re just learning about Kim and Matthews, you might have missed their college careers. A total of 46 players recently earned LPGA cards for next season, including Matthews and Kim. Both said they plan to announce their decision about whether they will turn pro or defer and finish their college seasons in the coming days.
The money was donated by the Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation. Parsons, the founder of internet domain and registrar company GoDaddy, purchased Scottsdale National in 2013 and started PXG in 2014.
Check out some of the highlights from the second-annual showcase.
McAllister hates putting in Arizona
OK, maybe not, but at last year’s NCAA Championship the Sooner star made two aces, then at the PXG event he chips in for eagle to give his team some early juice.
Blowout at the turn
Things weren’t looking good midway through the event.
‘Be the number!’
The Semper Fi squad started to get a little swagger after the turn and Chacarra couldn’t get enough of Manke’s approach at the par-5 10th.
Gina Kim throws darts
A 325 carry?!
No words, just watch.