December 3, 2008

David Chad Campbell — former MC student and now champion golfer — recently designated a $30,000 contribution to MC’s Golf program. The money, given by the PGA of America, came from the 37th Ryder Cup, held last September at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. As a Ryder Cup Team Member, Campbell was able to select Midland College to receive funding for the “Play Golf America University” program. The program is the PGA’s college initiative designed to teach and improve the golf skills of students through instruction provided by PGA Professionals, and to suggest ways in which the students can use golf as a business tool as they enter the professional world. This initiative is already underway in MC’s golf program.

Campbell is one of the hottest golfers on the PGA tour these days. He defeated Tiger Woods in the World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play Championship in 2006, a win that moved him up to second place in the PGA rankings!

Campbell was a member of two powerful MC squads from 1992-1994, when he played golf under coach Delnor Poss at MC. Campbell was the conference medalist in 1993, the year that the MC team dominated the Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) and won the regional title. In 1994, the Chaps repeated as WJCAC champions and finished second in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) championship. That year, Campbell was WJCAC medalist, Region V Tournament medalist and the NJCAA Tournament medalist runner-up. He was listed as the number one player in the final NJCAA national poll.

After earning his associate degree at MC, Campbell finished his bachelor’s degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He turned professional in 1996 and has since claimed three PGA Tour wins.