Three professional exemptions were secured Monday at Detroit Golf Club.
Timothy O’Neal won the men’s title at the inaugural John Shippen, a 36-hole tournament created to provide more playing opportunities for Black golfers, both professional and amateur, while preserving the legacy of Shippen, the first Black golf professional and a five-time U.S. Open competitor. The women’s event, a two-person team format with foursomes and four-ball, was captured by Shasta Averyhardt and Anita Uwadia.
O’Neal, a 48-year-old mini-tour legend who has played in seven PGA Tour events, including the 2015 U.S. Open, earned a spot in this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic by shooting 5 under and beating Kevin Hall by two shots.