Furman Creates Scholarship Honoring Golfer Dottie Pepper

(Photo Courtesy of CBS Sports Paramount, Golf on CBS)

When a donor considered supporting women’s golf at Furman University in honor of a former player, he had just one name in mind: the CBS Golf analyst, former LPGA and Furman women’s golf standout Dottie Pepper ’87.

“Dottie is an icon,” said Alec Taylor ’75, who established, with his wife Susan Taylor, the Dorothy L. Pepper ’87 Endowed Scholarship for Women’s Golf. “She’s the best announcer in professional sports. She’s modest, a world-class golfer. Her comments are so insightful. Everything about her epitomizes Furman.”

“We hope this is the impetus for others to come along and donate,” said Taylor, a former chair of Furman’s Board of Trustees. The women’s golf endowment is open to contributions from donors who want to support and expand scholarship funding for women’s golf.

Cindy Davis ’84, Pepper’s former teammate at Furman, a former president of Nike Golf and a current Furman trustee, noted that Pepper holds the lowest score relative to par in any major tournament at 19 under.

“We’re all proud of Dottie’s accomplishments on and off the golf course. Her authenticity, integrity and preparation shine through in everything she does,” Davis said. “We always knew she was special. Now, everyone else does too.”

“Furman Women’s Golf has achieved transformational success on and off the course as one of the premier programs in the nation,” said Jason Donnelly, vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics at Furman.

“Dottie Pepper is the embodiment of these accomplishments as both a person and a professional. Congratulations to Dottie on this remarkable honor and thank you to our generous donors for making this inspirational gift.”

Pepper said she’s looking forward to mentoring players who benefit from the new scholarship.

“It’s an opportunity to touch so many networks that golf provides and open doors to, and to provide a valuable education, too. You can graduate with a degree from Furman and know that you’ve applied yourself. It means something,” Pepper said.

Pepper was low-amateur at the U.S. Women’s Open after her first year at Furman. In the NCAA Championship she finished in the top five three times, including runner-up in 1985. She was a three-time All American, graduated with a degree in health sciences and turned professional the day after commencement.

On the LPGA Tour she won 17 times, including two major championships. She is now an analyst with CBS Sports.