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PELLA—When it comes to golf, there’s not much bigger of a stage than the Ryder Cup. The competition between the best golfers from the United States and Europe has been going on since 1927 and is one of the sport’s most renown occasions. When the event took place last September, 2025 Central College graduate Kayden Pendergrass got an opportunity that most golf fans can only dream of.
Pendergrass, a lifelong fan of golf and a four-year men’s golfer at Central College, was hired to work for the Ryder Cup in Farmingdale, New York, where the worlds’ premier golfers were competing. While many golf fans never even get to attend the Ryder Cup, Pendergrass was not only there, but he was working as a Championship Operations Assistant. He did work for the tournament not only while it was going on, but also beforehand—in the preparation process.
“A majority of my work was behind the scenes set-up and support for the vendors pre-tournament,” he said. “During the tournament, I spent my time on crowd control during high-traffic times” he continued.
Although he was busy working while the tournament was going on, Pendergrass did get some time to take in the moment.
“Spending Friday morning in the Grandstands and being able to take in the atmosphere was one of the best parts of working the Ryder Cup,” he stated while reflecting on some of his favorite memories from the experience.
Being in this atmosphere caused Pendergrass to think back to his own playing days—specifically the four years he played at Central College. He credited these years for playing a role in his preparation for his professional life.
“The teamwork and culture that I experienced during my time on the Central golf team helped prepare me for my professional life and working on my current team,” he said.
While playing on the golf team was a driving force for the development of many traits, both the academic and social sides of Central were just as prevalent in the responsibility of preparing him for his career. While at Central, Pendergrass majored in business management/marketing while minoring in communication studies. The information he learned while studying these fields have proven to be a vital part of being successful in the work he does now.
“The widespread topics in classes and allowing me to be open to learning new things has transferred to my professional career,” Pendergrass said about how he was impacted by Central’s academics. “I saw myself grow the most in my leadership abilities, and working well with a variety of people towards a similar goal,” he continued. “These traits play a role in my current work on a daily basis, especially with the number of people that came together to set the stage for the Ryder Cup.”
With Kayden Pendergrass being less than a year removed from his college graduation, he still has a long future of accomplishments and achievements ahead of him. To get an opportunity like he had is nothing short of incredible and is a testament to the hard work he put in while at Central College, along with the years before.
“Jump at any opportunity that comes your way, especially if you aren’t sure if you’re qualified or not” Pendergrass said when asked what advice he would give to young/incoming college students.
On the other hand, when asked what advice he would give to soon-to-be graduates—like he was just last spring, he gave a short but sweet message: “embrace and enjoy the remaining time in school.”
