Courtesy of Florida A&M Athletic Communications
Florida A&M University golfer Mulbe Dillard IV was named the top golfer in the inaugural Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour Collegiate Rankings, announced by PGA Tour University and the APGA Tour on Monday.
"It's good to see where I'm at in terms of the rest of the minority players in the nation," Dillard said. "I know that I have a lot of work to do and this will only drive me to be better."
Three other FAMU golfers also landed in the top five of the rankings. Fellow Rattler Mahindra Lutchman was ranked third, followed by Ethan Mangum and Cameron Riley claiming the fourth and fifth spots respectively.
Michigan State's Andrew Walker debuted at No. 2.
Last season, the Florida A&M golf program had a phenomenal year winning four consecutive tournaments solidifying itself as the premiere HBCU golf team in the nation.
The announcement comes as part of the PGA TOUR's commitment to racial equity and inclusion. As part of the plan announced at THE TOUR Championship, the TOUR is pledging at least $100 million over the next 10 years to support nonprofit organizations whose services directly address the inequities and disparities that affect African-American citizens as well as underrepresented and underserved populations in the communities in which tournaments are conducted.
The APGA Collegiate Ranking will ease the financial costs associated with playing developmental tours as well as application fees for the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament. Eligible players for the APGA Collegiate Ranking are Black NCAA Division I, II or III golfers who exhaust a minimum of four collegiate years.
If they remain in the top five of the APGA Collegiate Rankings at the conclusion of their collegiate career, they will earn the following benefits once they turn pro:
• APGA Tour membership
• Entry into all remaining APGA Tour events
• Travel costs associated with each APGA Tour event
• Exemption into the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament
• Pre-Qualifying Stage unless otherwise exempt into another Stage
The APGA Collegiate Ranking uses the Golfstat adjusted scoring average as the ranking measurement, specifically designed to capture the top players positioned to qualify for APGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament access. This ranking list will be updated periodically throughout the 2020-21 NCAA men's golf season.