SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State University's Jaden Saunders has been invited to participate in the inaugural Southwest Airlines Showcase at Cedar Crest, a new national amateur invitational designed to spotlight the talents of top young golfers from diverse and underrepresented groups. Hosted by the local nonprofit I AM a Golfer Foundation, the event will debut Nov. 13-15 at historic Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas and Golf Channel will be providing live television coverage.

The Southwest Airlines Showcase will feature an elite field of 21 men and 21 women, representing more than 33 colleges and universities and 20 states. In addition, four nationally ranked high school golfers also received invitations to compete in the inaugural event. The tournament format is 54 holes of stroke play, with the men's and women's divisions vying concurrently for their respective titles.

"The player field is shaping up to be even stronger than we originally hoped for," said Chuck Walker, I AM a Golfer Foundation's executive director and lead tournament ambassador, in a recent interview. "With so many top players having committed to play, the competition for the men's and women's crowns should be intense and fun to watch."

Saunders will be one of two Division II players among the men's field of 21 golfers.

"I am grateful and excited for this opportunity and to be a part of this event," said Saunders. "It means alot to me to be selected and be able to showcase my talents on this stage."
 
The Acworth, Georgia native was the low medalist at the 2023 Cricket Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championship Tournament. Saunders opened with a one-over-par 73 in day one and then shot a one-under-par 71 in the second round. He won with a three-round total of 216, after carding a 72 in the final round.
 
Saunders shot 146 (73-73) and finished fourth overall to lead the SSU men's golf team to a fourth place finish in the 38th Annual Thomas W. Dortch Tournament which was held September 25-26, 2023 at Eagle's Landing Country Club in Stockbridge, Georgia.
                                                                                                                                                                                                 
During the North Greenville Upstate Collegiate Invitational on October 1-2, 2023 at the Greer Country Club, Saunders fired a 71 in the second round to lead the Tigers. Saunders shot 76 in the first round and his season-low of 71 in the final round gave him a total of 147 which was good enough to finish tied for 14th overall.

The iconic Cedar Crest Golf Course was founded in 1919 and was designed by famed golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast. During its illustrious 104-year history, Cedar Crest has been the site of many significant national tournaments including the 1927 PGA Championship, won by Walter Hagen, the 1954 U.S. Amateur Public Links, won by Gene Andrews, and the 1954 UGA National Negro Open, won by Charlie Sifford, the third of his six overall titles in the event. Tillinghast, Hagen, and Sifford are all members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Earlier this year, Cedar Crest unveiled larger-than-life bronze statues in honor of Hagen and Sifford as permanent features of its Legends Plaza.

"It may not hit them until they are on-site and playing the golf course, but these young amateurs will be walking on the same grounds and in the same footsteps of some of the most famous and trailblazing golfers of all time," said Dave Ridley, I AM a Golfer Foundation co-founder and chairman. "Many of these players will become trailblazers themselves both on and off the golf course later in life. We view this event as a springboard for them."

The Southwest Airlines Showcase will also feature a Saturday night gala dinner with a keynote speaker and a Sunday morning am-am fundraising event, followed by three days of official tournament play. During the morning of each day's competition, the schedule will allow for conferences, seminars, and job fairs not only for the contestants, but also for other area minority youth.

Admission to the tournament is free and the public is encouraged to attend. It is a wonderful opportunity to watch a diverse field of talented and passionate young golfers as they take on the challenge of a renowned championship venue.
 
Coverage from the Golf Channel includes : Monday, Nov 13 - 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. CST; Tuesday, Nov 14 - 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. CST: and Wednesday, Nov 15 - 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. CST.