Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Sparks was the top player on the ABAC golf team from 1981-1983. A year after his eligibility ended, he was the student assistant coach for Coach Wayne Cooper. In 1982, he and the ABAC team finished 10th in their first trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) tournament. In 1983, the team finished eighth in the national tournament, and Sparks was selected for NJCAA All-America honors. Sparks has been the owner of Highland Lake Golf Club in Hendersonville, N.C., since 1994. He also owns the Course Doctors Golf Course Construction Company in Flat Rock, N.C. On May 7, 2009, Sparks returned to ABAC to be the spring commencement speaker. He also received his associate’s degree in Turf Management from ABAC in the same ceremony.