Over the past 18 months, Cisco’s impact in the sports and entertainment world has been arguably unmatched. About one year ago, we announced a brand new partnership with the NFL that has since helped to improve their instant replay process and deploy mission-critical networking and security technology at both Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium and the 2022 Draft in Las Vegas. Just this past month, we announced new partnerships with leading global organizations McLaren Racing and Real Madrid. There’s no doubt that the marquee sports brands in the world recognize the transformative power of Cisco technology and are leveraging our solutions and expertise to stay ahead of the curve.
While technology certainly sits at the center of all our partnerships, there is one other red thread that runs through everything we do: the ability to further our company purpose to power a more inclusive future for all. We are committed to supporting organizations, teams, and athletes who share our vision and providing technology, support, and resources in order to work towards that goal together.
Today, that commitment rings true again, as I am honored to share that Cisco has entered into an official partnership with the APGA Tour, a non-profit organization committed to bringing greater diversity to the sport of golf. Through the partnership, we will work together to make golf more inclusive and accessible for players of diverse backgrounds, both on and off the course.
We are especially excited to welcome four new APGA players to Team Cisco, which I am deeply proud to say is one of the largest and most diverse rosters of brand ambassadors in the sport. Kevin Hall, Aaron Beverly, Olajuwon Ajanaku, and Troy Taylor will join our incredible roster of sponsored golfers and represent the Cisco brand alongside LPGA Tour standouts Nelly Korda, Jessica Korda, and Danielle Kang; PGA TOUR pros Viktor Hovland, Brendon Todd, Keith Mitchell, Chez Reavie, and Maverick McNealy; and fellow APGA player Kamaiu Johnson.
Here is a snapshot about each of our new additions to the Cisco family:
Kevin Hall has four career victories on the APGA Tour, including the tour’s Lexus Cup as the 2017 Player of the Year. Hall is the only deaf professional golfer to play in eight PGA TOUR events. As Hall has said in the past, “If I had a dream and I wanted to accomplish something, I'm not going to let my deafness stop me. There is always a way to get it done and I had to learn that at a young age, and it's helped me tremendously to get to where I am today and accomplish all the things I've accomplished.”
Aaron Beverly is currently playing in his second season on the APGA Tour after winning the 2021 Fall Series finale for his first career victory. He was the 2022 recipient of the PGA Tour’s Charlie Sifford Exemption, allowing him to play in this year’s Genesis Invitational with the Cisco logo on his apparel. Beverly has since earned status on PGA TOUR Canada.
Olajuwon Ajanaku is the founder of clothing and lifestyle brand Eastside Golf. After playing golf at Morehouse College, he spent several years in corporate finance before embracing entrepreneurship to support his own dream to turn pro in golf.
Troy Taylor II is currently a senior on the Michigan State golf team. As a junior, he was named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten with two Top-10 finishes and three in the Top 20. We are excited to support Taylor II through a Name, Image, Likeness marketing campaign in which he will sport the Cisco logo during non-collegiate amateur events, as well as participate in APGA Tour Cisco-sponsored events and interactive business and hospitality functions led by Cisco as he continues through his college career before eventually turning professional.
As part of our ongoing efforts to promote a more inclusive and diverse sport of golf, we will work with the APGA Tour to provide enhanced playing opportunities, financial investment, and mentorship programming, including our continued support of the Billy Horschel APGA Invitational, which begins tomorrow at TPC Sawgrass and features the largest purse in APGA Tour history.
We will also support the launch of a new APGA Junior Series, a four-event initiative designed to promote the growth of the game in young people of diverse backgrounds. In addition, we have worked with the Tour to create the Adrian Stills Award, named in honor of the Tour’s co-founder and current Board Member. The award will be given to the player who best exemplifies character and sportsmanship.
I hope you’ll share my excitement about this new opportunity to further our goal to drive inspiration to participation in the sport of golf by fostering greater inclusion and making it accessible for more people. And please be sure to cheer on all of the members of Team Cisco as the golf season heats up this spring and summer!
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