Clifton “Cliff” Edwin Forbes always knew he wanted to pursue the golf industry. As high school graduation approached, he knew there was only one place he wanted to test his skills in the game of golf. With both of his parents graduating from his hometown college, Chowan was a sure fit. A Murfreesboro native, Cliff graduated from Hertford County High School in 2008, and came to Chowan the following fall after being recruited by the golf coach, Ellen Ordnung. Cliff excelled as a golfer on the Hertford County High school golf team. In his senior season he earned the 2008 Northeastern Coastal Conference Player of the Year. That momentum propelled him into an excellent freshman year, and eventual career for the Hawks.
Cliff wasted no time his first year at Chowan. Under the coaching of Ellen Ordnung, in the fall of 2008, he was a medalist at his first ever college match and became the school’s first ever NCAA Division II medalist. Cliff was named All CIAA in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Even though Cliff was a medalist at numerous other golf tournaments, his most memorable one was in 2012 when he won the CIAA Championship. The team shot a school record of 5 under in the final round and Cliff carded a final round of 68. He then advanced to the NCAA Atlantic/East Regionals in Hershey, Pa. Cliff’s low round of 68 in Fort Lee, Virginia that year still holds the lowest round ever shot in a college round at Chowan. This was the perfect way to cap off a stellar college career.
After graduation in 2012, Cliff worked at Cypress Cove Country Club of Franklin, Va. as the Director of Golf until 2016. From there, Cliff decided to pursue a career in sales at the Roanoke-Chowan News Herald. Ultimately Cliff knew he wanted to be a 3rd generation insurance agent and left the Herald to do just that.
Since 2017, Cliff has been a licensed insurance agent and is currently employed with Boyette and Robertson Agency Inc.
Cliff continues to be active in his community, currently serving as President of the Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce. Cliff is still active on the golf scene, winning local tournaments and club championships over the years. However, nothing keeps him and his wife, Jo Ann, more active than his 2-year-old daughter, Polly Forbes.
Cliff’s story actually began at Chowan as he is son to Chowan alumni, Lisa and Tommy Forbes. Cliff’s younger brother, Dr. Corey Forbes, is an optometrist in Williamston, N.C. Cliff and his father, Tommy Forbes, a 2017 Chowan University “Jim Garrison” Hall of Fame inductee, become the first father-son duo to be inducted members.
