An elite lineup of the nation’s finest minority junior golfers will descend on Walt Disney World Resort's Palm Golf Course in their quest to capture the coveted William “Bill” Dickey Invitational (BDI) Championship, June 25th-27th, 2008. A total of 44 minority junior golfers (28 boys and 16 girls) will compete in two formats: 18 – hole two – player best ball and 36 – hole stroke play. Players competing in this year’s BDI championship will represent several states in the U. S. They have earned the honor through regional and sectional competitions culminating in their invitation and the reward of participating in our tournament. Apart from their prowess on the links, the majority of the junior golfers are exceptional students who carry better than a 3.0 grade point average. As gifted and accomplished players, they carry low handicaps.

The three-day event begins with a Junior/AM designed to expose youngsters to top professional and corporate leaders for a day of fun as well as to serve as a practice round. The congenial atmosphere turns extremely competitive on the second and third days as the juniors get to the business at hand in their efforts to capture the BDI Championship while the adults participate in a Corporate Challenge.

The Boy’s and Girl’s champions at last years 8th Annual BDI negotiated the challenges of the treacherous Eagle Pines golf course. Mariah Stackhouse from Riverdale, GA and Harold Varner, III from Gastonia, NC - were up for the challenge and outlasted the field as the Girls and Boys Division winners. This year they plan to come back and defend their titles.

Mariah is in the 7th grade, and has had some outstanding wins. The 2007 Georgia Women’s Match Play Championship, Georgia Girls Championship and the Youth Council 1st Place Winner. She has demonstrated her talents and played exceptional golf.

Harold is a senior and is looking forward to playing college golf. He has had an outstanding year. Harold was elated to receive an exemption into the Wal-Mart Pebble Beach Tournament where he won the team event with the Champion’s Tour professional Morris Hatalsky. Harold stated “it was absolutely awesome.”

Several of our junior alumni have been privileged to play Division I golf. They include the following: Joseph Bramlett, Saratoga, CA – Stanford University, Michael Chappell, Columbia, SC – Jackson State University, Teddy Collins, Louisville, KY - Stanford University, Vincent Johnson, Portland, OR - Oregon State University, Mackenzie Mack, Las Vegas, NV- Indiana State University, Maggie Noel, Houston, TX - University of North Texas, Stephan Stallwoth, Murrieta, CA – San Jose State University, Joshua Wooding, Riverside, CA, University of Southern California.