College Golf Fellowship helping Oklahomans find their way off and on the course

Photo: From left, Jaxon Dowell, Stephen Campbell Jr., Davis Woodliff, J.P. Roller and Karsten Majors. 

A small gathering of elite collegiate golfers was held Tuesday night in Tulsa not to discuss ball speed or the new TGL, but to share a larger message about their faith and its impact on helping them navigate the high pressure world of college golf and life in general.

Former University of Tulsa great and current director of instruction at Cedar Ridge Country Club Maggie Roller organized the event for the College Golf Fellowship. Central Region Staff Minister Karsten Majors, a former college golfer at Oklahoma State and UNLV after a great high school career at Bixby, moderated a panel that included University of Oklahoma golfers Stephen Campbell Jr. and Jaxon Dowell, Kansas State golfer J.P. Roller and former Samford golfer Davis Woodliff, all members of the CGF.

Each of the golfers discussed how they came to be involved with the College Golf Fellowship and more importantly, how their relationship with Christ has provided peace and security in a world where too often golfers judge themselves and their worthiness only by their latest score.

“When I got to Texas Tech, Ludvid Aberg was on the team and I quickly figured out my score wasn’t going to mean that much,” said Roller, a former Jenks star now a fifth-year senior at KSU sitting out the spring semester with a wrist injury. “I knew I needed something else to give me the confidence and peace inside that I needed.”

Dowell and Campbell Jr. are both fifth-year seniors at OU who have been in and out of coach Ryan Hybl’s deep lineup, and both have pro aspirations. They both credited their work with the CGF as having been instrumental in helping themselves and often their teammates as well as others they meet in the retreats and gatherings.

Dowell, who won for the first time as a collegian this fall and has also served as inspiration to many in overcoming diabetes to perform at a high level, said CGF has been crucial to his development as a player and person and largely for giving him an identity outside of how he performs in the high-pressure world of college golf.

Maggie Roller said she organized the evening because of how the great impact College Golf Fellowship has had in her son’s life. She has organized other CGF functions in the past at Cedar Ridge and elsewhere.

Majors has been with the CGF for nine years and described its mission and need for financial support. He said recent retreats with world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler, a prominent CGF member, have inspired many others to get involved.

“Our staff is able to invest time with college and pro golfers and coaches, as well as host free meals, events and retreats because of people that generously support our ministry financially.”

To support the College Golf Fellowship, click the link below. The address is on the link for those who would prefer to mail a check. CGF is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, and all donations are tax-deductible. In the “I want to support” dropdown box select Majors K.

https://www.collegegolffellowship.com/donate