Taraji Henson Stars in From The Rough
Taraji Henson stars in the inspirational true story of Dr. Catana Starks with the late Michael Clarke Duncan in the upcoming film From The Rough!
Taraji stars in the inspirational true story of Dr. Catana Starks, From The Rough, who made history as the first woman and the first African American woman to coach a men’s college golf team.
Synopsis:
From the Rough, starring Academy Award nominees Taraji P. Henson and Michael Clarke Duncan and Tom Felton, is the inspirational true story of Catana Starks from historically black university Tennessee State, who became the first woman ever to coach an all-men’s team at the collegiate level. Through grit and determination, she overcame incredible odds and deep-seated prejudice from all corners to guide a rag-tag group of golfers to an all-time record championship season. From the Rough celebrates this remarkable woman’s triumph against overwhelming odds.
Here is a little more about From The Rough:
When the Board of Trustees at Tennessee State University decides to start a golf program, athletic director Kendrick Paulsen Jr. reluctantly selects Coach Starks, the women’s swim coach and only candidate willing to take on the team, as the leader of his new program. Coach Starks, who views golf fondly from past experience, eagerly trades in her swim cap for golf clubs. In doing so, she becomes not only the first African American men’s golf coach, but also the first female one in a sport historically hostile to both African Americans and women. And, as she begins looking for golfers, she discovers that her new coaching position is going to be a far more difficult than she anticipated.
Whilst Coach Starks had played golf in college, she finds coaching to be a very challenging assignment, especially as most young golfers won’t risk their future careers on the uncertainties of a start-up team.
So, Coach Starks begins her recruitment program without a golf coaching background, winning record, or allies. Young American golfers interested in her program prove to be as scarce as her resources and credentials. Eventually, she turns to other countries to recruit a group of mismatched, underprivileged young golfers (“other people’s table scraps”) and becomes another first: the first coach at Tennessee State University with a predominantly international team.
Overcoming many obstacles, Coach Starks guides her team to an all-time record at the PGA National Collegiate Minority Championship. She redefines herself and teaches her players how to assert themselves in a world that has discredited them. She teaches them the skills required to play “From the Rough”, how to position themselves in the literal tall grasses of the golf course and how to gain character and confidence from their metaphorical “rough” pasts.
The film stars: Taraji Henson (one of our favorite people in Hollywood), LeToya Luckett (Single Ladies), the late Michael Clarke Duncan and Henry Simmons
Take a look:
From The Rough opens in theaters on April 25, 2014.
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