Bridgestone named a presenting sponsor for PGA TOUR’s Pathway to Progression

Ponte Verde Beach, Florida – The PGA TOUR announced that Bridgestone Americas
(Bridgestone) will become the presenting sponsor of the Bridgestone Collegiate Development
Program, a part of the PGA TOUR’s Pathway to Progression. The program is designed to achieve
greater diversity in the sport through increased focus on developing talent from diverse and
historically underrepresented groups.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bridgestone as the presenting sponsor of our efforts to provide
more opportunities for collegiate golfers from communities underrepresented in our sport,”
said Neera Shetty, PGA TOUR Executive Vice President, Social Responsibility and Inclusion.
“Bridgestone is in lockstep with the PGA TOUR in our vision to motivate and inspire the next
generation of golfers from diverse backgrounds, and we look forward to their partnership as we
continue to make the game of golf more open and accessible to all.”
The Bridgestone Collegiate Development Program will have a dedicated focus on elevating the
competitive and mentorship opportunities for Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU)
golfers, while also providing tangible career development opportunities for both players and
coaches. Among its initiatives are the Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking, the HBCU Coaches
Summit presented by Bridgestone, the Bridgestone Player Development Camp and two new
collegiate golf tournaments – the Bridgestone HBCU Invitational and the Bridgestone Collegiate
Invitational. Players participating in these events will also receive custom ball fittings and other
essential equipment for competition from Bridgestone Golf.
“At Bridgestone, we believe it is important that our partnerships reflect the rich diversity of our
teammates, partners, customers and the communities we serve,” said Sara Correa, chief
marketing officer, Bridgestone Americas. “The Bridgestone Collegiate Development Program
will accelerate our recent efforts with the PGA TOUR to create equitable access and unlock new
opportunities for golfers of diverse backgrounds. What really matters is making sure that future
generations of players and fans see themselves reflected in the sport, and we are committed to
building exciting, new alliances within this program to do just that.”
The Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking, now in its third year, creates competitively focused
opportunities to support and enhance the development of highly talented collegiate golfers
from underrepresented communities. Each year, the top five Black collegiate players in the
ranking earn opportunities through the program, including a full year of membership on the
APGA Tour and automatic entry into PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.
The Bridgestone HBCU Invitational will be contested November 1 and 2 at TPC Sugarloaf in
Duluth, Georgia. The 54-hole team and individual stroke play event will include 10 HBCU men’s
golf teams and five HBCU women’s golf teams, with the winning teams earning a two-day
development camp at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, home of THE PLAYERS
Championship. Furthering its support of the collegiate space, Bridgestone will participate in the
HBCU Coaches Summit presented by Bridgestone, helping to mentor and provide coaches with
insights to better prepare their teams for future success. The summit is in collaboration with
the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and the Black College Golf Coaches Association
(BCGCA).
Rounding out the list of initiatives under the Bridgestone Collegiate Development Program is
the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational, a 54-hole tournament featuring top-level NCAA Division
1 men’s golf programs and HBCU schools along with high-ranking individual golfers from
underrepresented communities in golf. Korn Ferry will award its winner with an exemption into
a 2024 Korn Ferry Tour event to be announced at a later date.
First unveiled in March 2023, the PGA TOUR’s Pathway to Progression aims to support the
identification and development of junior and collegiate golfers from historically
underrepresented communities. Now in its third year, The Collegiate Ranking, in partnership
with the APGA Tour, provides transitional support for the top five Black senior collegiate golfers
as they begin their professional golf careers