Rocky Mount, N.C. - The North Carolina Wesleyan golf program is set to host its 2017 Don Scalf Invitational this Sunday and Monday, September 24th and 25th, at Rocky Mount's own Belmont Lake Golf Club. The Bishops, who won last year's event by 27 strokes, will welcome the largest field of head coach Gregg Ripke's tenure when 48 golfers representing eight different teams tee off on Sunday.

In addition to NCWC, the 2017 tourney will feature full teams from Averett University, Cape Fear Community College, Chowan University, Goucher College, and Methodist University, as well as individual competitors from North Carolina State University and Mid-Atlantic Christian. The two-day event begins with tee times on Sunday, followed by a shotgun start in Monday's final round at the par-72 course.

The event, itself, is named for long-time staff member and friend of the College, Don Scalf. Scalf taught for 36 years and coached for 18 at the College, serving as Athletic Director for six years. During his coaching career, his teams won Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (now USA South) championships in basketball (1966) and golf (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973).  His prowess as a golf coach, in fact, earned him Coach of the Year honors on four occasions. 

Scalf was an inaugural member of both the USA South and North Carolina Wesleyan Athletic Hall of Fames, while NCWC's "Scalf Field" for soccer/lacrosse and "Don Scalf Court" for basketball/volleyball are named in honor of his dedication to Battling Bishop athletics. Additionally, the USA South annually presents its Don Scalf Award to a deserving male and female student-athlete from across the league that embody the tenants of his legacy.

The 2017 tournament will mark the first since Coach Scalf's passing in early March, and the Battling Bishops are privileged to continue to honor him with this event, which serves as a testament to what Don Scalf means to our Wesleyan family.