Utah Tech sophomore KJ Ofahengaue is set to compete as an individual in the 38th PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship, where a coveted Korn Ferry Tour exemption will be on the line. The championship, widely regarded as the most culturally significant championship in collegiate golf, will take place May 5-7 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
The 54-hole stroke play championship conducted by the PGA of America, features 27 teams and 45 individuals from NCAA Division I and II men’s programs representing Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and other minority serving institutions. A Women’s Division will also compete, with an exemption into an Epson Tour event up for grabs. Golf Channel will provide live coverage of the championship.
Ofahengaue will be vying for one of the top three (and ties) positions, which would allow him to apply for a sponsor exemption into the Korn Ferry Tour’s Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open, scheduled for June 19-22.
Coming off a strong freshman season at Utah Tech, Ofahengaue played in 10 team events for the Trailblazers, capped by a T7 finish at the WAC Championship. He also earned All-WAC Academic honors.
The PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship (formerly known as the National Minority College Championship) originated at a meeting in November 1986, following the Jackson State University Golf Tournament. The founders’ goal was to elevate the game at minority colleges and universities by providing student-athletes with the opportunity to compete on a championship stage during an era when they were excluded from playing in many collegiate golf events.
The inaugural Championship was conducted in the spring of 1987 at Highland Park Golf Course in Cleveland. Since 1998, PGA Golf Club has hosted the Championship, and in 2006 the PGA of America was granted complete ownership and management of the Championship by the National Minority College Golf Scholarship Fund. In 2019, PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) foundation of the PGA of America, assumed ownership of the Championship from the PGA of America.