Paine College played with ineligible golfer

Office of Public Relations
1235 Fifteenth Street
Augusta, GA 30901

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Paine College President Responds To Golf Team Tournament Withdrawal

(AUGUSTA) - Due to the massive amount of attention surrounding the absence of the Paine College Golf Team at the National Minority Golf Competition in Florida officials have prepared the attached statement. The following statement from President George C. Bradley is a response to the situation in detail. Officials of the institution feel that it is critical to be upfront with our media constituents about the situation involving the Paine College Golf Team. Please forward all media inquires to the Paine College Office of Public Relations.

President’s Statement

The recent misunderstanding regarding Paine College’s golf program is unfortunate. I feel as bad as anyone about the situation at this time. I say that knowing that a lot of individuals are disappointed that Paine College did not avail itself of a golfing opportunity that appeared to be there – especially when it seemed as though money was the only obstacle to their participation at the National Minority Golf Competition in Florida.

The fact of the matter is that money was only a part of the problem. The other part, a much more significant one, had to do with the ineligibility of a Paine golfer who played in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship Tournament held in Albany, Georgia.

In that competition Paine beat out four other schools for the Championship.

Unfortunately, we achieved this feat with a player who was not eligible. The fact that the team won with an ineligible player was reported by officials at Paine College (self-reported) to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The reason that it has taken a considerable amount of time responding to inquiries has more to do with the nascent status of golf and golf championship participation requirements in the SIAC as well as an institution’s responsibility to the NCAA regarding non-sanctioned events. The tournament that Paine College won recently was sponsored by the SIAC, but not sanctioned by the NCAA.

The lack of the NCAA’s sanction, notwithstanding, our decision to not send our team to the National Minority Golf Competition in Florida, something that we could have done with some financial strain, had mostly to do with our determination to follow the rules required by the NCAA – regardless of the competition. After it was determined that we had an ineligible player who had participated in the tournament in Albany, our decision was to draw back.

We have a lot of confidence in our athletic director and our team. Coach Ronnie Spry is a highly successful coach and athletic director who has an impeccable record with the NCAA. Our players are fine young men who possess outstanding golfing skills. There is no doubt that they could have competed well in Florida.

It is also evident that they have devoted a great deal of time and effort in honing their golfing skills. We know, too, that winning is very important; but competing must be done with honor, fairness, and respect for the rules of golf and the NCAA. Golf demands it as much as -- if not more than-- any sport that is played in either amateur or professional competition.

Pursuant to this spirit of honor and integrity, we called one on ourselves – again, a decision that is quite common to golf.

With some clarification from the SIAC and the NCAA about golf participation, we can certainly do better. We plan to do just that – better. Careful implementation of the will of the NCAA and the SIAC, and better staff knowledge of the various guidelines set, will keep us moving in the right direction.

If there is anything good that can be salvaged from this unfortunate situation, it is a confirmation of a deeply held belief that there are many people in Augusta who support Paine College’s golf team. We have received numerous calls from people who plan to lend their financial and fan support to Paine College becoming a part of the rich golf legacy that has become synonymous with Augusta. We thank you for your continued interest and support.

George C. Bradley, Ph.D.

For more information, contact: Natasha Carter, Interim Director of Public Relations at (706) 396-7591.