PGA TOUR’s Pathway to Progression to showcase 17 of the game’s top young players
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida and AKRON, Ohio – The PGA TOUR’s Pathway to Progression player development program today announced the return of the Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking Invitational, which provides a competitive opportunity to the top Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Rankings graduates over the past four seasons. A field of 17 is set to compete in the 36-hole tournament June 9 and 10 on the South Course at historic Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
“Since its creation five years ago, the Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking has provided tremendous benefits and opportunities to collegiate golfers, and this event will bring together the top-ranked players from the program’s history at a prestigious golf course in Firestone,” said Kenyatta Ramsey, PGA TOUR Vice President, Player Development. “The PGA TOUR is grateful for our continued partnership with Bridgestone as we work collaboratively to develop golfers of diverse backgrounds at this unique event.”
“It’s exciting to see our work with the PGA TOUR continue to create more access and opportunity for the next generation of golfers to learn and develop – because that’s what really matters,” said Caitlyn Ranson, director of partnership marketing for Bridgestone. “The Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking Invitational offers yet another unique opportunity for these young stars to gain experience that will help position them for future success both on and off the course. It’s a nice bonus that it takes place at an iconic venue like Firestone Country Club in a community that is very special to our company.”
The Bridgestone Collegiate Development Program – which counts the Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking among its initiatives – is dedicated to enhancing competitive and mentorship opportunities for golfers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and underrepresented communities. The Bridgestone APGA Collegiate ranking aims to create a developmental pathway for a historically underrepresented group of golfers. Eligible players are black golfers from NCAA and NAIA Division I, II or III programs (including HBCUs) who exhaust a minimum of four years of college eligibility. Now in its fourth year, the Collegiate Ranking, in partnership with the APGA Tour, provides transitional support for the top five Black senior collegiate golfers as they begin their professional golf careers.
First unveiled in March of 2023, the PGA TOUR’s Pathway to Progression aims to support the identification and development of junior and collegiate golfers from historically underrepresented communities.
Highlighting this year’s field is Kieron van Wyk of the College of Charleston, who finished No. 1 in the final 2024-25 Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking. Van Wyk’s impressive season included a top-five finish in his PGA TOUR debut at the Puerto Rico Open in March.
His top 25 finish in the final 2025 PGA TOUR University ranking earned him status on PGA TOUR Americas, and last week Van Wyk earned a sponsor exemption into the Korn Ferry Tour’s UNC Health Championship presented by STITCH.
Other top players competing from the 2025 class include Marcus Smith Jr., who helped lead Howard University to its second consecutive win in the NEC Championship; and Kci Lindskog who captured the individual title at the ASU Spring Classic in February.
The field also includes the top finisher from three of the last four classes: Mulbe Dillard (2021), Quinn Riley (2022), and Cole Stevens (2024).
Below is the full list of players competing in the event:
Joel Basalaine, Livingstone (Class of 2023)
Jeffrey Cunningham, Drexel (Class of 2022)
Prince Cunningham, Florida A&M (Class of 2021)
Mulbe Dillard, Florida A&M (Class of 2021)
Travis Jackson, North Carolina Central (Class of 2022)
Steve Kibare, Dalton State (Class of 2024)
Kci Lindskog, Texas Southern (Class of 2025)
Mahindra Lutchman, Florida A&M (Class of 2021)
Greg Odom Jr., Howard (Class of 2024)
Cameron Riley, Florida A&M (Class of 2021)
Quinn Riley, Duke (Class of 2022)
Marcus Smith Jr., Howard (Class of 2025)
Cole Stevens, Augusta (Class of 2024)
Troy Stribling Jr., Florida A&M (Class of 2023)
Kieron van Wyk, College of Charleston (Class of 2025)
Rashon Williams, Southern Utah (Class of 2025)
Xavier Williams, North Carolina A&T (Class of 2022)
Following the Bridgestone Collegiate APGA Invitational, Firestone Country Club will play host to the Kaulig Companies Championship – one of five major championships on PGA TOUR Champions. This event continues the seven-decade tradition of professional golf in Akron.
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About PGA TOUR
By showcasing golf’s greatest players, the PGA TOUR engages, inspires and positively impacts our fans, partners and communities worldwide.
The PGA TOUR, headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, co-sanctions tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Americas and administers PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry and PGA TOUR University. TOUR members represent the world’s best players, hailing from 28 countries and territories. Showcasing the biggest moments in the sport with history and legacy on the line, the PGA TOUR has long-term domestic distribution partnerships for broadcast coverage on CBS, NBC and Golf Channel and video streaming service on ESPN+. Internationally, PGA TOUR coverage is available across 200+ countries and territories in 30 languages via 39 broadcast and digital partners. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving, and to date, tournaments across all Tours have generated more than $4 billion.
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About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tires and rubber, building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone Americas employs more than 45,000 people across its worldwide operations. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.
About Bridgestone Golf
Based in Covington, GA, Bridgestone Golf USA manufactures premium golf balls, clubs and accessories under the Bridgestone and Precept brands. The company started making golf balls in 1935 and today has more golf ball design patents than any other company. Beginning in 2006, Bridgestone revolutionized golf ball selection with its custom ball-fitting program, identifying a golfer’s ideal golf ball based on personal swing characteristics. Today, as the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, Bridgestone has conducted over four million fittings via a combination of live-fitting, online selection, OTTO Autonomous Ball Fitting, and its V-FIT video ball fitting. The consumer data gathered from ball-fitting continues to inspire Bridgestone’s innovative new golf ball designs, yielding industry-leading performance products for the entire range of players, from recreational golfers to the best in the world. Bridgestone Golf is proudly represented on international professional tours by icons such as Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar, Jason Day, and Chris Gotterup. Bridgestone Golf USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo. More information: bridgestonegolf.com.
