DALLAS, Tex.- Savannah State University's Jaden Saunders participated 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 that was held November 13-15 at historic Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas, Texas. The event was hosted by the local nonprofit I AM a Golfer Foundation. The Golf Channel provided live television coverage during the tournament.
 
The Southwest Airlines Showcase featured 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 's format was 54 holes of stroke play, with the men's and women's divisions vying concurrently for their respective titles.
 
Saunders finished the tournament with a score of 220 which was good enough for 19th. During the three-day event, he shot for par 32 times and made eight birdies.
 
The Acworth, Georgia native shot 76 in the first two rounds but carded a 68  in the third round. He finished the tournament one stroke behind Rondarius Walters, Patrick Mwendapole and Emmanuel Jakisa who was tied for 16th with a score of 219.
 
In the opening round, Saunders shot for par 10 times, made two birdies, three bogies and had double bogey on the fourth hole. He started the tournament shooting for par on the first two holes but had a bogey on the third hole and a double bogey on the next home. Saunders shot for par on the fifth hole and had a bogey on the sixth hole but bounced back with a birdie on the seventh home. He also shot for par on the 12th, had a bogey on 13 but shot a birdie on hole 14.
 
Saunders ended the first day of competition with a 78 +5 and in 20th place which was one stroke behind Demar James and Argyle Downs who shot 75.
 
On the second day of action, Saunders teed off at 10:36 a.m. and ended the afternoon tied for 20th with James with a two round score of 152. Saunders shot for par 11 times and made a birdie on the 10th hole but also made six bogies.
 
With a 9 a.m. tee time in the final round, Saunders made a bogey on the first hole. He made a birdie on the next hole and shot for par on the third hole. Saunders made another bogey on the fourth hole but cleaned up his play and added birdies on holes 6, 8, 10 and 14 and finished the round with a career-low 68 -3.
 
Gregory Odom of Howard University was the men's tournament winner with a three-day score of 201 (69-66-66) while Allyn Stephens of Tulsa captured the women's tournament after shooting a score of 204 (70-67-67).