Several weeks ago, we told you about plans for a national-level college golf tournament planned this September at Point O’ Woods Country Club. Those plans are now coming to life, driven by the hard work of Point General Manager Matt Flaherty, the Board of Directors headed by Maggie Daly, and Central Michigan University Golf Coach Kevin Jennings.
The Jim DeLapa Collegiate, September 27-29, will bring together elite college golfers from fifteen major NCAA Division One universities across the country. They will play the stored Point O’ Woods Robert Trent Jones layout that has challenged many of the biggest names in the game over the past 50 years. Through the event, a new page will be written in the Point’s special chapter as one of America’s best known and most loved golf courses.
At a media day recently, MoodyOnTheMarket.com had a chance to sit down one on one with the organizers of the Jim DeLapa Collegiate to learn how it came together and where it is headed in the future.
General Manager Matt Flaherty told us that The Point’s heritage with college golf through decades of hosting the Western Amateur Championship had been on his mind ever since he took the job. Then… his phone rang…
“I was blessed to get a call from Coach Jennings from Central Michigan. He always had a dream to come back to Point O’ Woods, where he used to caddy as a youth, as a Division I college golf coach, and host a golf tournament. All I could do was smile, because we had the same dream.”
Coach Kevin Jennings had resurrected the CMU golf program, putting it back on the map after decades…
“Today, I’m the head men’s golf coach at Central Michigan University. But I grew up here in Benton Harbor, Graduated from Benton Harbor High School, with a full ride golf scholarship to Jackson State University. I’m also a graduate of the Golf Academy of America– the first African-American to graduate with playing and teaching credentials from there. At CMU, they allowed me to bring golf back after a 37-year hiatus, and we just successfully completed our third season.”
Jennings said at that point, it was ‘time’ to move on to his dream of a high-level college tournament at Point O’ Woods. So, he began by talking to Matt Flaherty.
Flaherty told us the timing was perfect because Point O’ Woods was considering how to put its new Educational Foundation Scholarship Program on firmer financial footing, as well as how to capitalize on the Point’s long heritage tied to college golf and the Western Amateur Championship.
“Coach Jennings grew up in Benton Harbor. He and his brother were caddies at Point O’ Woods. They attribute ‘The Point’ for not only helping them financially, but also to really grow and develop as young men. The caddy program at Point O’ Woods was instrumental in helping them get to the next level professionally. There were scholarships involved, there was mentorship involved, One of the leaders of that mentorship for Coach Jennings was Mr. Jim DeLapa and his son, the late Tony DeLapa.”
Jim DeLapa, a lifetime Point member from Coloma, has long retired from being one of the founders of the frozen pizza industry in America. His son, Tony DeLapa was a St. Joseph entrepreneur and Point member, who passed away in 2024. Their connection with Coach Jennings offered the perfect link to commemorate the DeLapa family’s ties to The Point while launching the collegiate tournament and helping fund the new scholarship program.
Flaherty feels that there couldn’t be a better multi-faceted foundation on which to launch the Jim DeLapa Collegiate event, which has an initial four-year plan, the final weekend in September through 2028.
Maggie Daly is the President of the Point O’ Woods Board of Directors and chairs the Foundation. She explained the new scholarship builds upon the Point’s longtime ties to the national scholarship program of the Western Golf Association:
“We’ve always been part of the Evans Scholarship, which is a full scholarship for our caddies, but it’s really only for caddies. So the new foundation was put in place because we really need to offer something like that for all of our Point employees.”
Daly said the scholarship program has already been useful in encouraging student employees to return to their seasonal jobs at the Point.
“We awarded our first scholarship in 2022. And we’ve awarded 19 scholarships with a total of roughly $80,000. This is a scholarship to any of our employees who apply for it, show a financial need and explain to us what they want to do to further their education.”
The Saturday thru Monday format for the Jim DeLapa Collegiate will be a busy agenda:
The event will be played over three days, with the competition set to consist of 54 holes of medal play. Teams will first play a practice round on Saturday, followed by 36 holes of medal play on Sunday. The tournament will conclude with 18 holes of competition on Monday, where both individual and team champions will be crowned. The champions will be celebrated on Monday afternoon.
Members and their guests, as well as Sponsors of the event will have an important role, especially on Saturday afternoon and evening. Saturday September 27th, members, their guests and Sponsors will have the unique opportunity to play an 18-hole round with one of the Contestants from the Jim DeLapa Collegiate. The Event will pair three members / guests with a Collegiate player representing one of the fifteen school field. There will be a buffet lunch prior to golf with a Big BBQ and Opening Ceremony for the Collegiate following Saturday play.
Flaherty said Central Michigan will be the permanent host school of the tournament. However, organizers are counting on eventually also having their Big Four schools for alumni and members at the Point. Michigan and Illinois are already coming. Michigan State and Notre Dame would be highly desirable additions.
2025 Jim DeLapa Collegiate Participants
Central Michigan (Host School)
Illinois
Michigan
Cincinnati
Princeton
Northern Illinois
UNC Wilmington
New Mexico State
Florida Gulf Coast
San Jose State
Grand Canyon
San Fransico
Saint Mary’s (CA)
Chicago State
Schedule of Events for 2025
Saturday September 27th
- Practice Round for participants – 9:00 Shotgun Start
- Collegiate – Alumni Event (Contestant – Member) – 1:30 Shotgun Start
- Opening Ceremony – Skills Challenge – 6:00
Sunday September 28th
- 36 Holes of Competition – 9:00 Shotgun Start – continuous play for 36 holes
- Tailgate Party
o “Wear your Jersey Day” Spectators will be highly encouraged to wear their school colors and support their team.
o Support the Collegiate players and also be able to watch the Final round of The Ryder Cup as well as NFL Football all in one location!
Monday September 29th
- 18 Holes of Competition
- Awards Ceremony following completion of play
Potential sponsors may choose from a menu of participation options, with information available from Matt Flaherty at Point O’ Woods. Email: MFlaherty@pointowoods.com
By Gayle Olson, MOTM Contributor
