Cullowhee, N.C. – Will Peoples, a 2008 graduate of Western Carolina University, through his golf venture Peoples Golf has inked a five-year commitment with the Catamount Men's Golf Program and in support of collegiate golf at the mid-major levels.
 
Peoples Golf support of the WCU program – and love his love for golf at all levels, specifically college golf – led to the formerly named Sea Palms Invitational being rebranded to The Peoples Championship to thank Peoples Golf and provide a platform for the company. Now, with this new commitment, the spring tournament hosted at the golf haven St. Simons Island, Ga., and the Sea Palms Resort, will continue to be The Peoples Championship at the Sea Palms Resort for the next five seasons.
 
Catamount men's golf renews its spring event for the fifth-consecutive season March 12-15, 2025, with 20 teams heading to coastal Georgia for the premiere, tour-like event that includes morning and afternoon waves of tee times.
 
"It's truly surreal to see my name on this tournament and it's a huge honor," said Will Peoples. "As a business management graduate of Western Carolina, the University has always held a special place in my heart. Working with the team and these players over the past few years has been a blessing. I consider them all close friends. Being able to help out by giving back to the school and the team has been special. I am excited to see them develop, not just as players but in their personal lives as well."
 
He added, "We love giving back and being able to help out the team in any way we can. We're excited to perfect our process and make this tournament better for years to come."
 
Founded in 2008, Peoples Clubs is a full-service online golf store specializing in custom-built tour-issue clubs. Will Peoples was an avid golfer growing up and turned his passion into a business. Peoples Golf builds clubs in-house to help ensure quality with a personal touch, including Tour Stock Putters and The Peoples Clubs (peoples.golf).
 
Pairing with Catamount men's golf and The Peoples Championship allows Peoples Golf to help cultivate the game, meeting and working with some of the nation's top collegiate golfers.
 
"Will Peoples and Peoples Golf has been assisting our Catamount men's golf program over the past five years. Originally, it was just for an emergency club repair leading up to an event.  But, as the relationship grew with Will, his team and our players, they now do everything from club repair, loft and lies checks, wedge stamping, and fitting. They are a huge part of our team in getting our players a competitive edge with the way they are able to dial in our equipment for each of the players' needs," said WCU head men's golf coach Tim Eckberg.
 
"With this gift to commit to our program for the next five years and have the opportunity to show off what he does to the country through the now named Peoples Championship, he has taken that relationship to the next level. We simply couldn't do what we do as a program without his generosity, and his team, and showcasing him through this great event at Sea Palms Resort is a perfect marriage to say thank you and show what he does," continued Eckberg. "Peoples Golf targets high-level golfers across the world by building clubs to specs that elite players play, as well as offering sales of specialty golf products from Scotty Cameron Circle T to Swag."
 
WCU's spring tournament on St. Simons Island, Ga., came about through the shortened COVID-19 spring season in 2021. Eckberg, who had played the course at The Sea Palms Resort, approached the course looking for a small 6-to-7 team event mid-spring. A combined 16 teams converged on the Island, making the event an overnight success, now entering its fifth installment in 2025, the event continues to grow in not just size, but prestige.  This year's 20-team field will be the strongest and deepest that has been put together.
 
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