Keiser University student Antonio Rivera recently shared his successful ’30-Second Pre-Swing Routine’ after competing in the Veterans Golf Association (VGA) Armed Forces Cup (AFC) Golf Tournament held at The Pinehurst Golf Course in Pinehurst, North Carolina as part of the Navy Team.

Rivera, a United States Navy veteran, who finished 2^nd overall in the challenge along with Navy teammates, credits regular training and a pre-swing routine to a winning game. “I quickly learned that in order to be competitive I must practice at least six hours a day for six days a week,” he said while sharing that he fell in love with the sport after being introduced to the game by fellow servicemen and that he hopes to join the Golf Tournament Management field after graduation.

The AFC was created to reward VGA members with the most participation throughout the VGA Tour season with a Ryder Cup-style championship between branches. This year’s challenge consisted of five service branch teams representing the top VGA point earners per branch per region. Each player’s selection was a testament to their dedication to the VGA, their service to the United States, and their love of the game of golf.

The VGA is dedicated to enriching the lives of Veterans and their family members through the camaraderie and sportsmanship of golf. Annually, the VGA hosts more than 450 local tournaments across the country, culminating in a VGA National Championship each fall.

Keiser University’s Associate of Science degree in Golf Management prepares students for a variety of positions in the golf industry. In this program, students are prepared to provide golf instruction, manage golf course operations, ensure appropriate maintenance of golf facilities and equipment, as well as integrate the play of golf into the broader hospitality and recreation domain. Through a competency-based education format and state-of-the practice golf training equipment, students are given opportunities for success in their academic, professional, and personal lives.

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associates to the doctoral level. Keiser University is a  designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and was ranked No. 5 in the U.S. in Social Mobility by U.S. News And World Report in 2022. As an institution serving more than 20% of students who are active-duty service members or veterans, Keiser University is proud to support those who have served.