title image via Jalisa Fulwood
Courtesy of Derek Bryant, Howard University Athletics
Howard University recent grad Everett Whiten Jr. (Chesapeake, Va.) won his first professional golf tournament in Akron, Ohio at the 2024 APGA (Advocates Professional Golf Association) Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational. The two-day (July 1-2), 36-hole event took place at the Firestone Country Club on South Course (par-70, 7400 yards).
Whiten won the inaugural individual crown after firing 136 (-4) during the two-round tourney. He was tied for the top spot at 1-under par (69) after Day One but pulled away with a 67-stroke (-3) performance on Day Two.
For his efforts, the Virginia native secured a five-stroke victory over Cameron Riley (141, +1) while taking home the purse of $7,500.
Michigan State’s Troy Taylor II finished third overall (144, +4) while other Bison standout Gregory Odom Jr. (Memphis, Tenn.) claimed fourth place (147, +7), earning $1,750.
The Collegiate Ranking Invitational takes the top five players in each year’s ranking from 2021-24 for a 36-hole event. The total purse was $25,000.
During the 2023-24 collegiate season, both Bison ranked among the top golfers, based on their World Amateur Golf Ranking Points Average. Odom and Whiten finished second and fourth, respectively, in the APGA Collegiate Ranking.
In their final season, both Bison earned All-NEC First Team honors while leading the program to its first Northeast Conference (NEC) title and berth to the NCAA Tournament.
