Asheville golf tournament celebrates 64 years of breaking racial barriers
RBC Canadian Open

Western North Carolina’s longest-running golf open tournament returned to Asheville Municipal Golf Course on Tuesday, July 9.

Caption: Asheville’s Skyview Golf Association celebrates 64 years of breaking racial barriers
The Skyview Golf Association returned for the 64th year of its annual tournament.

The Open started as a way to break the color barrier and have black and white golfers play together in Buncombe County. In the six decades since, hundreds of golfers have taken part each year.

A total of 177 golfers are teeing off in this year’s event.

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“As I looked out this morning when I was doing the greeting, I was looking at the faces and attitudes,” said Matthew Bacoate Jr., president of Skyview Golfing Association. “There was this upbeatness to the golfers. It’s just amazing for me to see how far we’ve come and transformed what was once disallowed. Now, it’s an integral part of our society.”
The tournament will run through Thursday, July 11 at Asheville Municipal Golf Course.