Kennedi Lee is making waves with her impressive skills as a trailblazer for young Black women in sports. A graduate student at Texas Southern University, where she studied sports management, Kennedi recently competed in the 2025 PGA Works Collegiate Championship at Whistling Straits. Her journey to this incredible opportunity began in a surprising place—playing Wii Sports with her brother. What started as a casual game with her brother turned into a deep love for the sport. It wasn’t just about the sport itself—it became a way for her to challenge herself and push past boundaries in a world where Black women are often missing from the conversation.
Kennedi’s trailblazing journey was a story of unexpected beginnings and unwavering determination. Growing up in Mansfield, Texas, she had no connection to the sport of golf. Soccer was her first love, and she played for five years before transitioning to new sports. “My parents, knowing I was always active, asked what I was going to do next. I listed five sports, and golf was one of them,” Kennedi recalled. “I didn’t know anyone who played golf, but I figured I’d give it a shot. The only experience I had was from playing Wii Sports with my little brother.”
It was this simple video game experience that sparked her curiosity about real-life golf. “Golf felt like a puzzle that I needed to solve. It was challenging, and I got really addicted to it,” she shared. That addiction, paired with her natural competitiveness, pushed her to dive deeper into the sport, setting her on a path that eventually led to collegiate golf and beyond.
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However, Kennedi’s path into competitive golf wasn’t without its challenges. As one of a few Black girls in the sport, especially in high school tournaments, she initially felt like an outsider. “In high school, I was often the only Black girl in the field. It became something I got used to, but I never really saw it as a challenge until later,” Kennedi reflected. “When I started playing, I didn’t see anyone who looked like me, but I wanted to prove that I belonged on the course, just like anyone else.”
Kennedi began her collegiate journey at North Carolina A&T, where she not only honed her skills on the golf course but also embraced the challenges of balancing academics and athletics. She then continued her pursuit of golf at Texas Southern University in graduate school, where she found a supportive community that encouraged both her academic and athletic aspirations. “Being a student-athlete taught me time management and how to balance everything, which is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life,” she said. “Golf, like life, taught me how to handle both the good and the bad. It’s all about taking your shots, both on and off the course.”
While Kennedi focused on her personal growth and success, she was also deeply committed to giving back. Through her internship with the I’m a Golfer Foundation, Kennedi coached young people in underserved communities, introducing them to the game of golf. “Coaching kids in Dallas—especially those who’d never had the chance to play—motivated me to keep pushing,” she explained. “I wanted to be someone they could look up to, someone who showed them that no matter where they came from, their dreams were possible.”
Determined to leave a lasting legacy, Kennedi had this to say regarding if she saw herself as a role model and pioneer. “At first, I didn’t see myself as a pioneer. But now, I realized that I was helping to pave the way for other young Black girls who wanted to pursue golf,” she said. “If I could inspire just one person to pick up a golf club, then I was doing my job.”
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Kennedi’s journey has been fueled by a desire to inspire other young Black girls to pursue their dreams, especially in spaces where they may not always see themselves represented. When asked what advice she would give to other Black girls navigating their own athletic and academic paths, Kennedi shared, “My advice would be to find purpose in whatever you do. No matter what the results are, at the end of the day, enjoy what you’re doing. Golf, like any sport, is just a game, and if you’re not having fun, then what are you doing?” Her words reflect her belief that success is not just about achieving accolades but about enjoying the journey and embracing the process.
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