Category: Rutgers alumni

Former Rutgers golfer Chris Gotterup wins first PGA Tour Event

Over the weekend, former Rutgers golfer Chris Gotterup etched his name into the history books with a win at the Myrtle Beach Classic.

Former Rutgers star and PGA Tour golfer Chris Gotterup made headlines on Sunday. The New Jersey native won the Myrtle Beach Classic, becoming the first Scarlet Knight in school history to win a PGA Tour event. Gotterup, who was with Rutgers from 2017-2020, finished 22 under par. 

Gotterup won the event by six strokes.

For Gotterup, it was a performance he will never forget, as he won a $720,000 prize. Due to his success, the 24-year-old has earned a spot in this week’s PGA Championship at Valhalla. He will also now be able to compete in the 2025 Players Championship and the Sentry. 

On the final day of the classic, Gotterup took his game to another level. He finished with a four-under-par 67 to secure the win. On Sunday, he was able to create some separation from the competition with a clutch birdie from 15 feet on hole 16 to create a six-shot advantage. 

During his biggest career win, Gotterup had to battle adversity after struggling on the first hole.

A win for Team Gotterup ❤️

@ChrisGotterup | @MyrtleBeachCl pic.twitter.com/XVxiTNmhjW

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024

“I felt good, like better than I thought I would feel coming out of the gates even though I made two bogeys,” Gotterup said in a PGA postgame interview. “Kind of a crappy putt on the first hole and a really tough two-putt on the next. Then to bounce back the way I did, it’s just kind of how I roll.”

Although Gotterup is now shifting his focus to Valhalla, his performance last weekend secured a special place for him in history. He became the first Jersey Shore native to win the event since 1948. That has not changed his mindset but only increased his drive.

Can Carli Lloyd replace Vlatko Andonovski as USWNT head coach?

After a draw to Sweden, the U.S. Women’s National Team was eliminated in the 2023 World Cup. Will there be a coaching change for the USWNT?

After a hard-fought battle in the round of 16, the U.S. Women’s National Team was eliminated in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The tie to Sweden marks the earliest exit for the United States in the Women’s World Cup. Also, it ends the United States’ chances for the first team to win the tournament three straight times.

And it would surprise no one to see a new head coach for the United States ahead of this next cycle, including the Olympics and another World Cup in four years.

Earlier this week, ex-USWNT captain Carli Lloyd called out her former teammates for celebrating a tie to Portugal after a below-average performance. Lloyd holds her former team to a higher standard despite the current USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski deflecting Lloyd’s comments toward his team.

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Fans on social media our lashing out toward the Americans’ below-average performance in the 2023 World Cup, requesting Lloyd to take over Andonovski’s role as USWNT head coach. Does Lloyd have the credentials to take over as head coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team?

Lloyd’s Qualifications

Lloyd is a Fox Sports analyst and might be considered for the USWNT head coaching spot if Andonovski gets let go after an early tournament exit. The former Rutgers Women’s Soccer standout knows what it takes to win (she has won two World Cups and has three Olympic medals), and USWNT needs an experienced leader to get them over the hump.

The New Jersey native from Delran, New Jersey, has 134 career goals and 64 assists while appearing in 316 games for the USWNT. Lloyd is known for performances in high-pressure moments, scoring game-winners at Rutgers, in the SheBelieves Cup, the 2008 and 2012 Olympics gold medal games, and the 2015 World Cup final.

During her four years at Rutgers, Lloyd is the only Scarlet Knight to earn First-Team All-Big East Honors four times in her career (2001-2004). Also, she got named the 2001 Big East Rookie of the Year. The Rutgers all-time points (117) and goals (50) leader can be a strong candidate for the possible USWNT head coach position.

Lloyd traveled the world with the National Team and played in two U.S. Women’s professional leagues. She played for the Chicago Red Stars, Sky Blue, and Atlanta Beat in the Women’s Premier Soccer League. After playing in the WPS, she joined the National Women’s Soccer League and played for the Western New York Flash, Houston Dash, and Sky Blue FC. Her last season came in Manchester City, where she joined the Champions League in 2017.

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Ron Harper Jr. signed his second NBA contract with the Toronto Raptors

Former Rutgers star Ron Harper Jr. signed his second consecutive two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors.

The Toronto Raptors opted to keep former Rutgers star Ron Harper Jr. on a two-way contract for next season. The 23-year-old undrafted guard did not have a strong showing at Summer League earlier this month, but his solid performance in the G-League earned him an additional two-way opportunity with the Raptors.

Harper appeared in nine games for the Raptors at the NBA level last season, averaging 2.2 points and 0.8 rebounds a night. While playing for the Raptors 905 in the G-League last year, the former Scarlet Knight averaged 16.7 points in 30 games. He shot 50.1% from the floor while shooting 36.6% from three-point range. Also, Harper recorded an average of 5.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and a steal per game.

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During the Summer League, Harper averaged 12 points in four games, shooting 34.9% from the field and 16.7% from behind the arc. The 6-foot-6 guard had a solid performance in the final games with the Raptors 905 in 2022-23, helping him earn an additional two-way opportunity.

 

Harper is a restricted free agent after the Raptors offered him a two-way qualifying offer ahead of free agency. The undrafted guard will spend most of his time in the G-League next season, working on his offensive development. If Harper’s deal doesn’t convert into a standard contract, the former Rutgers four-year starter will be ineligible for the NBA post-season games.

While playing with Rutgers, Harper was a two-time All-Big Ten honoree and an Associated Press All-American honorable mention.

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Rutgers alumni: Scarlet Knights’ most famous graduates and attendees

Rutgers is rich with sports history, but there are plenty of famous alumni throughout the school’s history

As an academic institution, Rutgers University has gone through a renaissance in recent years. Not only is the program certainly pointed up athletically, but the research institution and the academic standing of Rutgers has seen it become one of the elite higher learning institutions in the nation.

On the playing field, Rutgers has done well with the Olympic sports for years but has seen surges in success from the large sports such as basketball, led by head coach Steve Pikiell, and football led by head coach Greg Schiano.

What you may not realize is the rich, proud history of Rutgers’ graduates and former attendees that have made their impact felt across the country and beyond. Whether it be actors, politicians, or authors – Rutgers is well represented outside of the playing fields.

Call it pork roll or Taylor Ham…it doesn’t matter. Rutgers has put its stamp on the nation in major ways.

Check out some of the most notable alumni who have eaten at the grease trucks, spent a Friday night (and a few early Saturday morning hours) at Old Man Rafferty’s or have skipped class to go to Menlo Park Mall.