WEEKLY SPOTLIGHT:  The Don Scalf Invitational... More Than Just A Golf Tournament

Rocky Mount, NC - On Saturday and Sunday, March 29th and 30th, the North Carolina Wesleyan men's golf team will host its annual Don Scalf Invitational at Ford's Colony Rocky Mount.  It is no secret that hundreds of athletic tournaments are played each year that are named in honor of distinguished individuals, and the Don Scalf Invitational is no different.  Too often, however, the reasoning behind the naming of these events goes unnoticed.  So this week, we take time to recognize the namesake of North Carolina Wesleyan's annual golf tournament and highlight his many accomplishments.

A long-time staff member and friend of the College, Don Scalf's list of achievements places him among the most elite of North Carolina Wesleyan associates.  His commitment to the student-athlete, devotion to academic achievement, and dedication to the purpose of Division III athletics set a standard that holds steadfast today.

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 DIAC Coach of the Year honors on four occasions. 

In addition to his role as the first coach in both Bishop basketball and golf history, he also served as head coach for our inaugural women's volleyball team in 1974. 

His resume at NC Wesleyan made Scalf an obvious choice for the initial North Carolina Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame class in 1999.  His name is now permanently displayed in NCWC's Taylor Center, while Wesleyan's "Scalf Field" remains one of the finest Division III soccer complexes in the nation.

But there's more... 

A founding father of the DIAC in 1963, Scalf served as its Secretary-Treasurer for 25 years.  For this reason, the conference presents its prestigious Don Scalf Award to one deserving male and female student-athlete on a yearly basis.  To be eligible, a student-athlete must be either a junior or senior, have participated in and earned at least All-Conference recognition in a USA South sport, and have a minimum 3.00 grade point average in the classroom. 

The award embodies the values and principles that he stood for as a both coach and educator.  

So on Saturday and Sunday, Coach Scalf will kick off the tournament with a ceremonial tee shot. Five teams will then participate in what they may think is just another golf event.  For those associated with North Carolina Wesleyan, however, the Don Scalf Invitational is more than just a tournament... it's a tribute to one of the finest individuals ever affiliated with the College.