When Ronnie Lott was a rookie in the NFL, legendary players like Deacon Jones and Jim Brown helped him grow and develop a career that lasted 14 seasons and earned him 10 Pro Bowl selections, four Super Bowl titles and a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Now Lott is returning the favor to an up-and-coming minority golfer. The former defensive back for the San Francisco 49ers is sponsoring Michael Herrera, a player on the APGA Tour, a developmental tour for minority professional golfers. Lott will cover travel and competition-related expenses for Herrera, who won the APGA Tour season opener in January. In return, Herrera will wear a logo for Lott’s Tracy Toyota during competition.
The two met back in August at the Eighth Annual Cedric “The Entertainer” Celebrity Golf Classic Presented by Lexus on the second tee at Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo, California.
“He was real interested in my story and he sees that I have the work ethic needed to give making the PGA Tour my best shot,” said Herrera via a release. “Ronnie Lott cares about diversity and he is interested in the success of the APGA Tour.”
The former defensive back, whose All Stars Helping Kids non-profit has raised $20 million for disadvantaged youth, isn’t the first athlete to support the APGA. Billy Horschel hosted an APGA event at TPC Sawgrass – won by Willie Mack – and Cameron Champ’s foundation is working on fundraising opportunities with the tour.
The APGA Tour continues later this month with the Farmers Insurance Fall Series, which began September 20-22 with APGA Tour Valley Forge. Next up is the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Atlanta Championship, Oct. 17-19 at White Oak Golf Club at the Clubs of Peachtree City in Atlanta. The series concludes with the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Fall Series Finale, Nov. 7-9 at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles.
