Pictured left to right are Lenoir Community College Computer-Integrated Machining students Yahir Ponce-Bazan and Cody Brown, LCC Industrial Systems Program Chair Andrew Luppino, LCC Student Success Coach and Golf Committee Member Amy Eason, PGA Professional Clark Rose of Walnut Creek Country Club and LCC Graphics Program Chair Dwight Downie.  

If you are a golfer, you won’t want to miss teeing off at the Lenoir Community College Foundation Golf Classic May 16 at the Kinston Country Club as organizers unveil a unique first-place prize.

The College and the community have partnered together to design and produce a custom-made putter to be awarded to the first-place winners of the morning and afternoon flights at the Golf Classic. Draken International is the sponsor of the putters.

Katherine Pearson, Development Coordinator, said in the past, machining students have been involved in the golf tournament by manufacturing ball markers, divot tools, and bag tags. This year, the students took on a bigger challenge of making putters.

“There has been positive feedback from community members during the development process, and we hope the putters will help spread the word about some of the programs and opportunities LCC has to offer,” says LCC Student Success Coach Amy Eason.

“We are so proud of our students, our instructors, our community partners and sponsors who have come together on this project,” says LCC President Dr. Rusty Hunt, who made the first test putt. “The proceeds from the Foundation Golf Classic support scholarships for students. This is always a great fundraising event.”

“Our students are the reason we have fundraising events so we can assist them with scholarships to continue their education,” says LCC Executive Director of the Foundation Jeanne Kennedy. “This creative project provides an opportunity for our community partners to see the innovative work that our students produce in the classroom.”

Draken International was happy to sponsor the project to support the Foundation. “We do our best to integrate with the community,” says Chief Smith, Quality and Training Manager of Draken International. 

 “This is a great opportunity to provide a practical learning experience for students, says LCC Industrial Systems Program Chair Andrew Luppino. “Our students and staff have given their best effort to design and produce a quality product players feel just as confident using as they would with a name-brand putter.”

In developing the project, committee members reached out to Walnut Creek Country Club’s PGA Professional Clark Rose.  His insights offered valuable perspective on the intricate relationship between design aesthetics and functional performance in golf equipment. “Overall, the design is kind of like a lot of putters all put in one, but it's simple and it works,” he said. “I love the design of the putter. It’s nice looking and it’s something that when you see it, it looks familiar, but it’s different."

Machining students Yahir Ponce-Bazan and Cody Brown said they enjoyed producing the putter, but they said it was challenging, particularly when working with stainless steel, a material known for its strength and rigidity. They said it gave them a blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience that they will need in the workforce. 

Ponce-Bazan plans to graduate in May with Brown following in the summer. Ponce-Bazan says he has an interest in pursuing opportunities in the machining field, with aspirations to work with CNC machinery in cities like Wilmington, Charlotte, or Raleigh. Meanwhile, Brown plans to secure a position in a machine shop, preferably focusing on programming.

Pearson said it has truly been a collaborative effort between the community and the College. “We are grateful for those who have assisted with the research, development, prototyping, feedback, redesign and production.”

Those involved in the project include Luppino, Eason, Rose, Dwight Downie, LCC Graphics Chair, First Tee Golf Shop in Goldsboro, Adam Irsik, LCC Mechanical Engineering Technology instructor, and Machining students Ponce-Bazan and Brown.

For more information on how to be a sponsor or how to participate in the tournament, contact Pearson at (252) 233-6843 or email kwpearson52@lenoircc.edu.