Hall of Fame
Christopher Robert Summers was born September 25, 1981 in Salt Lake City, Utah. After two years in Utah and five in suburban Chicago, Chris moved to his eventual hometown of Peachtree City, Ga. Shortly after moving to Peachtree City, golf became one of Chris’ primary interests. He played his first competitive event at the age of nine and won his first junior tournament at the age of ten. From 1991 to 1999, Chris competed year round in tournaments across several junior golf tours. Chris also became a letterman on the McIntosh High School Golf Team, earning the designation of Senior Captain in 1999.
Chris was introduced to Oglethorpe by Coach Jim Owen. The combination of smaller classes, professor availability, location, and athletic opportunity made Oglethorpe a perfect fit for Chris. Originally interested in mathematics, Chris eventually majored in business and computer science.
On the golf course, Chris was a four year traveling member of the Oglethorpe Golf Team. During Chris’ four years, the Stormy Petrels won four consecutive conference championships. The Stormy Petrels also won several other tournaments during this stretch, including the Tom O’Briant Memorial, the Sewanee Spring Invitational, the Camp LeJeune Intercollegiate, and the Pine Needles Invitational. For their efforts, the Stormy Petrels earned invitations to the NCAA Division III National Championship three times, finishing as high as sixth during his senior year.
Individually, Chris was named Honorable Mention All American in 2002 and Second Team All American in 2003. He was the 2002 SCAC Player of the Year and finished First Team All Conference in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Chris finished top-five at eight tournaments during his career, including individual victories at the Sewanee Spring Invitational and the SCAC Conference Championship. During his junior year, Chris was in the top five, nationwide across all collegiate divisions, in pars per round.
Chris’ most vivid competitive memory occurred during his junior year, when he birdied the final hole of the Camp Lejeune Intercollegiate Championship to help Oglethorpe earn a one-shot victory. Overall, Chris remembers the camaraderie with his coaches and teammates. Between van rides, creative offcourse games, and private jokes, he always felt the Stormy Petrels had more fun than any team in the country.
During his junior year, Chris fell in love with his future wife, Kimberly Jean Vax. While practice and experience were impactful, nothing attributed more to his success than having her in his life. Chris and Kim were married in 2005 and had their first child, Danny, in 2009. Chris continues to work for Oglethorpe, serving as the university’s Assistant Director of Financial Aid. Kim teaches fifth and sixth grade literature at Holy Spirit Preparatory School.
Chris would like to thank his parents, Mark and Susan Summers; his sister, Mallory; his Uncle Rob; Coaches Jim Owen, Mike Deckert, and Robert Fink, and his Stormy Petrel golf teammates for their support, companionship, and inspiration across his years of competitive golf.
