Wayland Baptist University (Texas) Men's Golf Program Receives Buffalo Funds Five Star Award

Coaches and student-athletes recognized for exhibiting exceptional character values

Posted 5.30.07

For a complete list of 2006-07 award recipients click here.

OLATHE, Kan. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Champions of Character founding partner Buffalo Funds present Buffalo Funds Five Star Awards for each of the NAIA’s 23 championship sports. Wayland Baptist University (Texas) men’s golf team was recently awarded the Buffalo Funds Five Star Award for its dedication and implementation of the Champions of Character program’s five core values: respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. The Pioneers are led by head coach Tom Harp and compete in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

“Our team foundation is built on prayer. We have faithfully prayed for each other before every tournament round we have ever played. Through difficult times after disappointments, after all day competitions, these young men have prayed,” said Harp. “These young student-athletes have character and will make us proud in the future.”

The Wayland Baptist men’s golf team uses the Champions of Character core values and standards to build a team that rises to the occasion. The Pioneers have shown their maturity in recovering from their mistakes during a tournament but more importantly their ability to recover from mistakes in life. The program stresses that student-athletes honor commitments and the golf team feels that is what makes their approach to sport so valuable. Coach Harp says his experience in traveling with the team reveals their integrity throughout their walk of like. The players honor their commitments even with the little things that may seem insignificant.

The men’s golf team has earned the respect of those around them for honoring the tradition of golf. In a tournament in Colorado earlier this year J.J. Brumley finished his second round with a score that the team needed, but after J.J. signed his scorecard he realized the total score was correct but a box score was incorrect. He knew immediately if he reported the mistake he would be disqualified. That is exactly what he did. The character it took for him to stand up and disqualify was enormous and one he took pride in doing.
 

“Our character has built an attitude of respect for one another and those we compete against,” said team captain Mikel Martinson. “This has made us one of the closest teams I have ever played for in any sport.”

The Wayland Baptist Pioneers are part of a community dedicated to intentionally teaching character in and out of sport. To learn more visit www.wbu.edu.

A leader in the development of student-athletes, the NAIA is committed to changing the culture of sport through Champions of Character. Founded in 1937, the NAIA continues to be a pioneer in implementing exceptional standards for academics, diversity, and character. Today, the NAIA sponsors 23 collegiate championships in 13 sports for its nearly 300 member institutions throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more about the NAIA visit www.naia.org.

Buffalo Funds

Buffalo Funds is the Official Sponsor of the Champions of Character program. Buffalo Funds assists in the Champions of Character program growth and is the title sponsor of the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship. To learn more about Buffalo Funds visit www.buffalofunds.com.