2024 Folds of Honor Collegiate Expands Field, adds Michelob ULTRA as a Presenting Sponsor

Elite Field of 15 Men’s Teams, 15 Women’s Teams; Live on Golf Channel Sept. 9-11

April 22, 2024 - The third annual Folds of Honor Collegiate will be contested September 9-11 at the Jack Nicklaus-designed American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan. This year’s tournament has expanded to 15 men’s teams and 15 women’s teams to better reflect the Folds of Honor mission, with 57 percent of scholarship recipients being female.

There are 22 different colleges and universities representing the 30 teams in the combined field. Since the 2007 inception of Folds of Honor, there have been 2,664 students attend these schools on a Folds of Honor scholarship, with an educational impact of almost $10 million. Folds awarded a record of over 9,300 scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year, with 471 of those going to the schools playing in the 2024 Collegiate.

The field of 15 men’s and 15 women’s teams will feature some of the elite college teams in the country, including 11 teams ranked in their respective national Top 25 polls, as well as the Service Academies, a Division II team on each side, and a men’s and women’s HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities). A total of 45 percent of Folds’ recipients are minorities.

The 54-hole event will broadcast live on Golf Channel, and simulcast on both Peacock and Golf Channel’s digital platforms.

Michelob ULTRA will serve this year as a Presenting Sponsor and will be joined by additional tournament partners to be added in the future, along with existing sponsors. Michelob ULTRA joins the Collegiate family in 2024 as part of Anheuser-Busch’s longstanding support for Folds of Honor. Since 2011, Anheuser-Busch, its brands and wholesaler partners have donated $28 million to provide life-changing educational scholarships to the families of fallen or disabled US military service members and first responders.

“As a former collegiate golfer at Kansas, and after speaking to the players and coaches the past two years, I understand how special and important this event is,” said Lt Col Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “To be able to play for more than yourself or even your team separates this tournament from all others.

“When we began to reimagine American Dunes, Mr. Nicklaus and I always envisioned hosting a collegiate event. In three short years, we have a top-rated men’s and women’s field, extensive network coverage, and a Presenting Sponsor in Michelob ULTRA that highlights Anheuser-Busch’s longstanding support of our mission. This represents so many people coming together to support and honor our scholarship recipients and our country on an outstanding golf course. Having the final round on 9/11 adds even more meaning to this patriotic event.”

The 2024 Folds of Honor Collegiate is co-hosted by Michigan State and Florida State and includes many of the top programs in the country. There are a combined 11 teams ranked in the Men’s and Women’s Top 25 Division I and II polls, led by No. 6 Florida State, and five more schools receiving Top-25 votes. No. 17 Illinois and Notre Dame return to defend the schools’ 2022 and 2023 titles, respectively.

On the men’s side, Air Force, Army and Navy represent the service academies, and Navy will field a team on the women’s side. Division II Grand Valley State, which earned a spot by winning the 2023 Folds of Honor Challenge, is one of eight schools fielding both a men’s and women’s team. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which was the only HBCU to advance to the 2023 NCAA Regionals, will join the men’s field for the first time, while the Howard women, coming off a win in the inaugural Arcis HBCU Championship, make their debut.

“We are honored to be a co-host for the Folds of Honor Collegiate and help build upon the success the event has garnered over the last two years,” said Amy Bond, coach for the 19^th-ranked Florida State women. “The Folds of Honor program is a blessing to so many family members who have had a loved one serve in the military or as a first responder. Some of these heroes have paid the ultimate sacrifice and all have put their lives at risk to protect our country and our communities. I am thankful to be a part of this event, especially as we add women’s college teams to the tournament.”

“We are blessed every day to be able to play the great game of golf and it is thanks in part to those who stand up and defend us all,” continued Bond, who just celebrated FSU sophomore Lottie Woad winning the prestigious Augusta National Women's Amateur title with three birdies in her final four holes. “This is much more than a golf tournament and will allow every team and player to give back. We have compiled numerous top-tier golf programs to compete this year in the Collegiate, and it will be a unique opportunity for all the teams. Golf Channel will be dedicating significant hours of live coverage over the three days, so some of the finest college golf will be on display. This is a premier event that will showcase spectacular golf, but more importantly, will raise funds and increase visibility for the Folds of Honor mission. I cannot think of a better way to kick off the 2024-2025 season.”

Michigan State Men’s Golf Coach Casey Lubahn was part of the first talks between Lt Col Rooney and the Golf Coaches Association of America about creating the Folds of Honor Collegiate, and he’s proud to see how the event has grown so quickly.

“One of the great opportunities of my career has been the chance to serve as a host for the Folds of Honor Collegiate since inception,” Lubahn said. “What this event has become in just two years has overwhelmed me, but it’s also made me proud of the work that has been done to make it one of the best events in the country. The teams that come here get to play on one of the best courses in the country at American Dunes Golf Club, and, more than anything else, the teams that play and the golfers that compete are honoring true American heroes and their families. I’m even more excited this year to see it grow, including a women’s field and to have additional live coverage on the Golf Channel. The Folds of Honor Collegiate is truly an inspiring event and we’re excited to be part of it once again.”

“Folds of Honor and college golf are a natural fit,” said Dustin Roberts, CEO of the GCAA. “We’re excited top men’s and women’s fields will have the American Dunes experience – one that is both special and humbling. The GCAA is honored to continue to assist Folds of Honor with its mission.”

This year’s Folds of Honor Collegiate features a College-Am and Welcome Party on Sunday, Sept. 8. Each team will also carry an Honor Bag tag, representing the Folds of Honor recipients at each of their schools since the inception of Folds of Honor.

This year’s field will include a combined 16 teams (nine on the women’s side) that made the 2023 NCAA Division I Golf Championships or NCAA Regionals. Grand Valley State men and women made it to the 2023 Division II Golf Championships. In addition, five men’s teams are currently ranked in the Bushnell/Golfweek DI (GCAA) Coaches Poll Top 25—including two in the Top 10 (No. 6 Florida State, No. 10 Alabama)—with three other schools Receiving Votes. The women’s field has four teams currently ranked in the Division I Mizuno WGCA (Women’s Golf Coaches Association) Coaches Poll, led by No. 11 Texas, and five teams that were either ranked or received votes in the Golf Channel preseason poll. Grand Valley State is ranked in both the men’s and women’s Div. II polls.

Below are the 30 teams competing in the 2024 Folds of Honor Collegiate:

*-indicates team made it to the 2023 NCAA Div. I or II Golf Championships or NCAA Regionals.

+-indicates team has been ranked or receiving votes this year in their respective national polls.

MEN:

Air Force
Alabama *+
Arkansas *+
Arkansas-Pine Bluff *
Army
Florida State *+
Grand Valley State *+
Illinois *+
Kansas
Michigan State
Navy
Notre Dame +
Ohio State *+
South Carolina +
Texas *+

WOMEN:

Arizona *+
Baylor *+
Florida State *+
Grand Valley State *+
Howard
Kansas *
Michigan State *+
Navy
North Carolina +
Notre Dame
Ohio State +
San Jose State *+
Texas *+
Tulsa *
Virginia *+

For sponsor, College-Am or ticket information for the 2024 Folds of Honor Collegiate, please contact Tournament Director Scott Tolley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For media inquiries or credential requests, please contact Adam Mackey, Director of Communications, Golf Coaches Association of America, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For additional information about Folds of Honor, please contact Glenn Greenspan, Director of Public Relations, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Folds of Honor

Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of US military service members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving our country and communities. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded over 52,000 scholarships totaling about $244 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45 percent are minorities. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on Candid. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment 1, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org.

About American Dunes

In 2006, the Grand Haven Golf Club hosted a small golf tournament that would inspire the founding of Folds of Honor. The Grand Haven Golf Club closed in 2018 and a limited group of patriots joined together with Jack Nicklaus to create American Dunes. Nicklaus led the project by donating his design fee, a group of eighteen individuals sponsored one hole each, and five private investors joined together to preserve the birthplace of Folds of Honor. The mission of American Dunes is unwavering. We are honored to raise awareness and funds for the families of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders.

Since the facility opened in May 2021, over $2.6 million from profits have been donated back to Folds of Honor to provide life-changing educational scholarships.

“American Dunes represents a collaboration of countless likeminded patriots, who want this golf course to forever stand as a tribute to the birthplace of Folds of Honor, a safe haven for veterans who find rehabilitation through the recreation of the game, and a backdrop to celebrate our country and those who fought for its freedom,” said Lt Col Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “A significant legacy such as this is born out of the effort of selfless individuals and companies who have donated their time and resources.”

About the Golf Coaches Association of America

Established in 1958, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) is the professional organization of men's collegiate golf coaches. The GCAA's mission is to support its member coaches from six divisions, including the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA, by creating educational opportunities, providing resources, and promoting its members with the purpose of enhancing their overall performance as coaches, mentors, and teachers. The GCAA also recognizes the excellence and achievements of its members and their student-athletes in academic, athletic and civic endeavors.

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