The Ave Maria University athletic department is pleased to announce the newest athletic facility coming to the AMU campus. The University will begin planning for the construction of The Judy Fyke Golf Training Center, which will benefit the Ave Maria golf programs.
The facility has been made possible due to a generous donation from AMU benefactor Jim Cunningham, in memory of his "angel" Judy, who passed away in January of 2015. Prior to the golf facility, Cunningham helped to create an emergency fund, which was distributed to many students in need during COVID. He has also sponsored scholarships at the University, starting the Cunningham Family Scholarship Endowment.
"I have had the privilege of working with Jim Cunningham for the past several years," AMU Major Gift Officer Scott King said. "Judy was an avid golfer, a long-time Naples resident, and when Jim heard about the practice facility, he was very excited to be a part of it."
"I have been supporting AMU since 2006 due to their commitment to the Blessed Mother," said Cunningham. "I am thrilled to be a part of this project as a way to remember Judy."
Ave Maria University vice president and Director of Athletics Joe Patterson said this new facility will give Gyrene golfers an on-campus home to work on their games.
"The Judy Fyke Golf Training Center will immediately elevate the AMU golf program, giving our golfers a chance to work on the most critical portion of their game," Patterson said. "We are humbled by the generosity of Jim Cunningham, and we are excited to be able to honor Judy."
AMU Director of Golf and head coach Michael Kernicki echoed Patterson's sentiments, and added that the new facility will give AMU golfers the same opportunities found by golf programs at the highest level of college athletics.
"The training center is paramount to the golf program at AMU as the most important aspect of the game happens in and around the putting green," Kernicki said. "It offers the AMU golf teams the same opportunities to improve that most all Division-One universities have.
The Judy Fyke Golf Training Center, which will be built on University grounds, will complement the two 18-hole courses within the town limits of Ave Maria for AMU golfers. The facility will feature areas for chipping and putting. The facility will also have tee boxes for driving.
Construction of the training center is scheduled to begin toward the end of this calendar year, with plans calling for the complex to be available to golfers by the spring semester.
Ave Maria competes in the hyper-competitive Sun Conference of the NAIA. In the final national poll published May 5, 2022, the top four NAIA teams in the nation all came from the Sun Conference.
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