Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 3-11-16 Edition

FLORIDA SENTINEL FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016
Kicks Off At Historic Rogers Park
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
It’s been some months since Montrele Wells stepped on a golf course to compete in a tournament. Health and financial woes have plagued Mr. Wells, a professional golfer who lives in Jack- sonville. A bout of ulcerative colitis – a condition that had been in remission – flared up again in late October. Sponsorships that were promised fell
through.
Mr. Wells credits his determination and strong
faith for getting him through what’s been a rough pe- riod.
“I have just been praying and asking God to heal me and give me strength,” he said. “There were countless times that I felt like throwing in the towel.”
It’s a good thing he didn’t. Mr. Wells, 33, will be one of 50 golfers taking over the greens this week- end at Rogers Park to compete in the Advocates Pro Tour. Tampa is the first stop of the tournament.
CHRISTIAN HEAVENS
Wells, who’s played the tournament since turn- ing pro in 2012, is coming with a laser-like focus on success. And, he’s snagged a sponsor as well.
“I’ve been working out and taking it one day at a time,” he said. “I’m excited to get back in there and compete.”
Founded in 2010, the Advocates Pro Tour will travel to Atlanta, Pensacola, and New Orleans and culminate with a championship game in Los Ange- les.
Tour officials say in the future, more cities could be added to the schedule including Dallas and Or- lando. And there are plans to add a women’s division as well.
In six years, the tour has become a vital stop for golfers of color looking to advance to the Profes- sional Golfers Association.
Wells, who has an Advocates Pro Tour Top 5 and two Top 10 finishes under his belt, said the tour’s affordability and dedication to advancing Blacks in the game make it a must-do for him every year.
“I’ll have car washes and raffles to go on the tour,” he said. “Their visions are so big for minorities in golf.”
Christian Heavens, also a pro, has played in the tournament for five years. The camaraderie amongst the golfers and tour administrators makes it a favorite, he said.
“It’s like a homecoming,” he said.
Both Wells and Heavens say the tour’s prize money is appealing as well.
Tournament prize money increased from just $4,000 in 2010 to this year’s prize of $7,500 for first place and $10,000 for the championship.
A five-year grant awarded to the tour in 2013 from the PGA boosted the amount of the prize money, said Kenneth Brantley, the tour’s execu- tive director.
The tour’s mission is to increase the number of African Americans in the game by providing golfers with the resources – mentoring, training, etc. – they need to be successful. That includes helping them
hone the skills they need to catch the attention – and commitment – of sponsors, Mr. Brantley said.
“It’s very hard to go to someone and say my goal is to be a golfer, give me $50,000,” he said. “You have to get someone to be- lieve in you.”
The Advocates
Pro Tour encour-
ages golfers to develop their game so that they can move on and join a larger tour.
But it’s a Catch-22, Mr. Brantley said.
“We have players who are ready with that kind of resume,” he said. “But some will say it’s tough to build that resume without the money.”
Heavens, 26, concurred.
“It’s frustrating,” he said. “I know we can play, we just need the opportunity.”
About The Advocates Pro Tour
Advocates Pro Tour events will begin Friday, March 11 with a panel discussion about increasing diversity in the game of golf. The tournament will take place Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13, at Rogers Park, 7910 N. 30th St., in Tampa.
MONTRELE WELLS
B