Ten years ago, Avis began her battle with Breast Cancer. By the Grace of God, she has been cancer free for ten years. The Lord spared her, so that she can share her walk-of-life and help inspire others by empowering them with health awareness, healthy life-styles, life-skills, citizenship and golf.

“It is not the adversity that you face, but how you face the adversity, that defines you as a person and builds character.”

Gordon Brown, Jr.

Avis amazing journey began in San Diego, California. She is the second youngest of five siblings, born to Gordon Sr., and Harriet Brown. Her father introduced her to the game of Golf at age seven, and her hard working, humble and devoted parent’s sacrifices paid off.

Avis won her first Junior Golf Tournament at the age of eight. At the age of 10, she became the first African-American to win the prestigious Junior World Golf Championship. She also has three other Junior World Golf Championship trophies. As a member of the San Diego Junior Golf Association, she won over 50 golf tournaments, and represented San Diego in team events. During her final year of Junior Golf, she amazingly won 10 of 16 events, finished second twice and third three times. She won the San Diego Junior Golf Association, Junior-Golfer-of-the-Year 5-times.

Avis was the number one player on the Samuel J. Morse High School Boys Golf team. During her senior year, she played in the Andy Williams San Diego Pro-Am with United States Open Champion Jerry Pate. Avis also finished in 3rd and 6th place during CIF golf championships. Immediately after her High School Graduation, she became the first and only African-American to win the San Diego City Women’s Amateur Championship.

Avis attended the United States International University, a Division I college on a golf scholarship. During her first year, Avis won rookie of the year. She won the first National Minority Collegiate Golf tournament. In 1985, she was ranked 25th in the nation, and played in the NCAA Women’s Championship every year. She received her degree in Communications.

After college, Avis traveled the United States, much of the time alone, playing in mini tour golf events. Her professional golf career is highlighted in 1988, when she shot a seven under par 65 (a women course record) to win the Michelob Classic at Canyon Crest Country Club. She won the local pre-qualifying in Los Angeles to play in the United States Women’s Open at the Five Farm Country Club near Baltimore, Maryland. She is one of five African-American’s to play in the United States Women’s Open. She also received eligibility status for the Future’s tour in 1990 and 2006.

Avis served as a High School Golf Coach and 25 years as a teaching professional for the San Diego Inner City Junior Golf Foundation. No matter where she is at, church, golf events, or speaking engagements, you will always hear Avis say, “What a great feeling, being able to give back to the children in the community”.

After 25 years of playing competitive golf, Avis took her life, organization and people skills into Corporate America. Avis worked as an Operations Manager with FEDEX and retired on June1, 2019.

In November 2009, Avis had a vision and dream; to write a series of Books, the first being: Building of a Champion, and travel the world, in the hope of inspiring children by sharing her amazing story. Along with her business partner; her brother, Gordon Brown, Jr. they began to put the pieces in place. In early 2010, Avis was diagnosis with Breast Cancer. Avis will tell you “it was the toughest eighteen holes of golf she had ever played”. It was her strong faith in God, a strong family support system, and the Desire, Dedication, Determination she learned and demonstrated during her Golf career that helped her to win the battle.

Avis has been cancer free for ten years, and Avis and Gordon Jr., are once again putting the pieces in place for the Avis Brown-Riley Golf Extravaganza. It is her belief that God spared her for a reason; “Golf has always been my passion; it has provided me and my family with wonderful memories. Being bless with a special talent, my dream for the world, is that every women and child has the opportunity to experience the game of golf”.

No matter how long her day has been, Avis finds time on Facebook, watching and analyzing golf swings, mentoring and providing words of encouragement and advice, to her many Facebook friends from Africa and the U.S. A Christian woman, wife, working mother, and author, Avis’ family and friends define her as a person who is dependable, trustworthy, strong moral character and a great team player.
Avis is an inductee of the San Diego Hall of Champions and the African American Golfers Hall of Fame, where she serves as a Board Member, and a recipient of the PGA Heritage award. In July 2017, Avis gained her LPGA Certification. In February 2018, Avis and her team published her first book: Building of a Champion.

Accomplishments

 

• Junior World Champion

• 3rd and 6th place during CIF golf championships

• 1st African-American to win the So. Calif. PGA Junior Tournament of Champions

• Represented So. California in the Junior America’s Cup

• San Diego Women’s City Amateur Champion

• Won the 1st National Minority Collegiate Golf Championship

• Michelob Classic Champion: Canyon Crest course record: 65

• US Women’s Open participant

• Over 100 Professional Golf events

• Lincoln High School Golf Coach

• San Diego Golf Hall of Fame

• The African American Golfers Hall of Fame

• PGA Heritage Award

• Author: Building of a Champion

• LPGA Golf Professional

• Southwestern College Foundation Board Member

• American Cancer Society Ambassador

• 14 Nation-wide Motivational Speaking events

• Contestant on the Disney/ABC Production: Holey Moley Game Show

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