Photos by Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
The Genesis Invitational has announced that Gregory Odom, Jr. of Howard University has been named the 2023 Pathway Player into the tournament’s Collegiate Showcase. Odom will compete in the ninth annual Showcase on Monday at Riviera Country Club for the chance to earn the final exemption into the Genesis Invitational to be played next Thursday-Sunday.
This is the second straight year that the tournament has awarded the Pathway Player invitation into the Collegiate Showcase—given to a player of a minority background who excels both on the golf course and academically. The invitation is intended to provide exposure and opportunity to high-level competition in support of the recipient’s professional golf aspirations.
“Greg already has amassed an impressive list of accomplishments as an amateur, and we hope that the Collegiate Showcase can provide additional experience as he one day begins his professional career,” Genesis Invitational Tournament Director Mike Antolini said.
Odom brings a wealth of experience into his start in the Collegiate Showcase. He made his PGA TOUR debut at the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship at TPC Potomac to go along with four career starts on the Korn Ferry Tour and one start on PGA TOUR Canada. Odom has won back-to-back PGA Works titles in 2021 and 2022 and helped Howard University win the team championship this past year. In the fall, Odom secured collegiate victories at the River Run Collegiate and USF-Howard Intercollegiate.
“It’s an honor to compete in the Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase and I’m proud to be named the 2023 Pathway Player,” Odom said. “I’m excited to tee it up against a great field at Riviera while representing the tournament, the Pathway Player Award and Howard University.”
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Odom began his collegiate career at the University of Memphis. After his sophomore season he transferred to Howard, where he has helped spark the Bisons’ success. Recently, Odom earned the top spot in the APGA Tour Collegiate Rankings, and with that a start in the 2023 APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational at Torrey Pines, where he finished in third place.
As part of the Pathway Player award, The Genesis Invitational will support Odom’s and Howard University’s travel to Riviera.
The 2023 Collegiate Showcase kicks off tournament week for the Genesis Invitational. With 19 teams competing in the annual one-day event, this year’s Showcase features its largest field of collegiate players in the event’s nine-year history. The Showcase has helped launch the careers of many PGA TOUR players, including Will Zalatoris, Sahith Theegala and Scottie Scheffler. Michael Brennan, the 2022 Showcase champion, looks to defend his crown.
Past winners of The Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase include Brennan (2022, Wake Forest), Angus Flanagan (2021, Minnesota), Sean Yu (2020, San Jose State), Lukas Euler (2019, Kentucky), Scheffler (2018, Texas), Theegala (2017, Pepperdine), Charlie Danielson (2016, Illinois) and Zalatoris (2015, Wake Forest).
Photo courtesy of Howard University Athletics
The Showcase also features a pro-am with teams comprised of a PGA TOUR pro and two amateurs representing the collegian’s school. The pro-am teams compete in better ball play, with the winning team earning a $50,000 donation to the school’s golf program. The field includes Matthew Feinstein (William & Mary); Nathan Han (Columbia); Riccardo Fantinelli (Princeton); Gustav Frimodt (TCU); Ethan Davidson and Jack Wall (Texas Tech); Dylan McDermott (Colorado); Alex Goff (Kentucky); Ben Warian (Minnesota); Matthew Anderson (San Francisco); Jackson Rivera (USC); Brian Stark (Texas); Bo Peng and Taehoon Song (Washington); Tyler Severin (Wyoming); and Brennan, Scotty Kennon and Marshall Meisel (Wake Forest).
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