John Shippen purse gets a boost as top Black golfers compete for spot in RMC

The John Shippen National Invitational, launched in Detroit in 2021 to help break down barriers for Black professional and amateur golfers, continues to get bigger and better.

For the first time, all three Shippen tournaments have prize-money payouts, in addition to the exemptions awarded into one PGA Tour tournament and three LPGA tournaments. Last year, only the John Shippen tournament that awarded a spot in the Rocket Mortgage Classic had a purse, which was funded by donations from Detroit Golf Club members.

This year, all three tournaments are paying out first, second and third place, with the money coming from increased revenues through sponsorships.

“Offering purses for all three (of) The John Shippen events is a hugely important step as we continue to support the top Black men and women golfers in their development,” Jason Langwell, executive director of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, said in a statement. “Pursuing a professional golf career is an expensive endeavor, and the costs of travel, equipment and access to training and facilities can be prohibitive.

"Our goal is to help ease those financial stresses and reward the players that perform well in our events.” 

The first or the three Shippen tournaments took place Monday, with 15-year-old Ashley Shaw shooting 73 in New Jersey to win an exemption into this week's LPGA Cognizant Funders Cup. The winner was to receive $10,000 of the $16,000 purse, but since Shaw is an amateur, the $10,000 first prize was distributed among the players who finished second and third. Mariah Stackhouse and Georgia Oboh tied for second, and will split the entire purse, shooting 75.

On June 4-5, a women's field will play 36 holes at Blythefield Country Club, outside Grand Rapids, for a spot in the Meijer LPGA Classic (June 13-16), as well as a spot in the LPGA's Dow Championship (June 27-30), a team event played at Midland Country Club. The winner gets to choose her partner for the Dow. The winner at Blythefield receives $13,200 from the $22,000 purse, with second getting $6,600 and third $2,200.

The men's John Shippen takes place June 22-23 at Detroit Golf Club, just before the start of the Rocket Mortgage Classic (June 27-30). The winner gets $13,200 from the $22,000 purse, with second getting $6,600 and third $2,200.

The total purse for all three tournaments is $60,000.

Last year's men's Shippen winner, Chase Johnson, earned $20,000 for winning the 36-hole qualifier — the first time the tournament featured prize money, though in previous years, Rocket Mortgage provided a modest week-long sponsorship to the winner — and then became the first Shippen winner to make the cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He finished tied for 64th, earning another $18,656.

Since launching in 2021, The John Shippen has awarded 16 exemptions across the PGA and LPGA Tours, and donated $340,000 to local charities, scholarships and fellowships.

Organizers of The John Shippen cover travel costs for the participants.

“Supporting not only the winners of The John Shippen events, but the top three finishers, by offering prize purses is something that we have wanted to do since we first started in 2021," said Sommer Woods, co-founder of Woods and Watts Effect, and tournament lead for The John Shippen. "The players that compete in these events are all supremely talented. The more ways that we can support them, the better.” 

Intersport, a marketing agency of which Langwell is executive vice president, and the Woods & Watts Effect created The John Shippen, named after the man who was believed to have been the first American-born golf professional. Tournament organizers also host a business summit in Detroit, for students interested in working in sports.

Admission and parking for The John Shippen at Detroit Golf Club are free. The field for the men's John Shippen National Invitational will be released in the coming weeks.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984