Wingate Names Surratt New Men's and Women's Golf Coach
James Ambrose announced as assistant coach
August 2, 2004

Courtesy Wingate University Sports Information Office

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University has named Dr. Jerry Surratt head men’s and women’s golf coach, vice-president and athletic director Steve Poston announced today. In addition, Wingate has named James Ambrose assistant coach for men’s and women’s golf.

Dr. Jerry Surratt has been named the head men’s and women’s golf coach at Wingate University.

Surratt replaces Holly Burns, who resigned to take a position as Manager of Member Services for the South Carolina Golf Association. Both Surratt and Ambrose will begin their new duties immediately.

Surratt has competed locally in club championships and on the Charlotte Senior Amateur Tour. He led the field in the senior’s championships at Monroe Country Club in 1993 and 1994 and won first place in the First Flight of the Eagle Chase Golf Club championship in 1998.

Combining golf and travel, he organized two groups of Wingate University Alumni golfers on trips to Great Britain and Ireland, playing the classic courses at St. Andrews, Muirfield, Carnoustie, Turnberry, Ballybunion, and Walton Heath.

Surratt participated in the development of Eagle Chase Golf Club in Marshville, Wingate’s home course. He has served on the Eagle Chase Golf Club Board of Directors since 1996, acting as the president of the board since 1998.

A student-athlete at Wingate, Surratt lettered in basketball and tennis for the Bulldogs. After completing his professional preparation at Wake Forest University and Emory University, he returned to Wingate in 1967 to teach on the faculty.

Dr. Surratt’s primary focus has been in administration, although he has continued to teach at least one course each semester. He served as Academic Dean during the 1970s, returned to fulltime teaching during Wingate’s early years as a baccalaureate institution. He concluded his professional career of thirty-four years as Dean of the Charles A. Cannon College of Arts and Sciences. Since retiring in 2001, Surratt has continued to teach North Carolina history each year.

James Ambrose capped an outstanding Wingate University men’s golf career in the spring of 2002, earning a spot the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals at the North Shore Country Club in Sneads Ferry, N.C.

Only the second men’s golfer to advance to NCAA postseason play, Ambrose had a three-day total of 230 (74-81-75). The 2002 event was part of a “Super Regional” featuring eight teams and five individuals from the Southeast Region and eight teams and five individuals from the Atlantic Region.

Ambrose was voted All-South Atlantic Conference in 2002, leading the Bulldogs with a 76.7 stroke average. His career-best round was a 68 in the Carolina Sands Invitational on April 13, 2002.

Ambrose graduated from Wingate in May of 2002 with a B.S. degree in Communication Studies. During his time as an undergraduate, Ambrose was a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. He served as secretary, sergeant-at-arms and new member educator (one year each).

In addition, he served one year on the Student Government Association (SGA) Judicial Board. He was a writer for the The Weekly Triangle, Wingate’s student newspaper.

A native of Watertown, N.Y., Ambrose will continue his duties as an admissions counselor for Wingate University. The son of Daniel and Doreen Ambrose, James Ambrose played football, basketball and golf at Immaculate Heart Central. He earned All-Conference honors in all three sports.