Avis Brown-Riley is a golf trailblazer who shows kids that big dreams and hard work can change lives.
Avis made history as the first and only African American to win the San Diego City Women’s Amateur Championship. She also became one of only a small number of African American women to earn an LPGA Class A Golf Professional certification—one of the highest honors in golf.
Born in San Diego, California, on March 29, 1964, Avis picked up her first golf clubs when she was just seven years old. By age eight, she had already won her first tournament. When she turned ten, she became a Junior World Champion and went on to win more than 50 junior golf championships, a record that still stands today.
Avis earned a college golf scholarship and competed at a Division I university, where she was named Rookie of the Year and ranked among the top golfers in the nation. She later played professional golf and competed in major tournaments, becoming one of only five African Americans to play in the U.S. Women’s Open and the only African American to compete in the U.S. Women’s Senior Open.
In 2009, Avis followed another dream and became an author. Her book, Building of a Champion, teaches kids that being a champion isn’t just about winning—it’s about courage, faith, and never giving up. When Avis faced breast cancer, she fought through it with strength and determination, proving that champions are made in life, not just on the golf course.
Today, Avis is a golf teacher, motivational speaker, and mentor who inspires kids—especially girls—to believe in themselves, dream big, and keep going no matter what.
Her message is simple and powerful:
“Dreams can come true. Do not give up. Never give up.”
