PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The 22nd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship is set to feature the largest field in the history of this prestigious National Championship, which will be staged for the 11th consecutive year at The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., May 9-11, 2008.

A record 51 colleges and universities, an increase of 13 from last year's championship, are scheduled to participate in the three-day competition that will be contested on the Tom Fazio-designed Ryder and Wanamaker Courses.

"The PGA of America is pleased to have a record number of schools and participants in the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship this year and showcase some outstanding players from America's minority serving universities," said PGA of America President Brian Whitcomb. "This Championship gives participants the opportunity to play in a prestigious Championship and provide an invaluable resource to assist students in gaining employment within the golf industry."

The 54-hole, stroke-play Championship will consist of four divisions: NCAA Men's Division I and II, and NAIA Men's and Women's. In addition, there is an Individual Invitational competition for minority Men and Women contestants. The Individual Invitational is open to college students who are African-American, Hispanic-American, Native or Alaskan American, Asian or Pacific Island American.

The PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship features 220 athletes, an increase of more than 40 competitors from last year's event.

The following is a list of the teams and independent schools that were accepted into the 2008 PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship.

NCAA Men's Division I:
Alabama A&M University
Alabama State University
Bethune Cookman University
Florida A&M University
Grambling State University
Hampton University
Jackson State University
Savannah State University
Southern University
South Carolina State University
Texas Southern University
University of Texas Pan American
Winston Salem State University

NCAA Men's Division II:
Fayetteville State University
Johnson C. Smith University
Kentucky State University
Lincoln University
Morehouse College
Paine College
St. Augustine's College
Virginia State University

NAIA Men's Division:
Edward Waters College
Johnson & Wales University
University of Texas Brownsville

Women's Team Division:
Alabama State University
Bethune-Cookman College
Hampton University
South Carolina State University
Tennessee State University
University of Texas Brownsville
University of Texas-Pan American

Men's Independent Invitational:
Arizona State University
Auburn University
Benedict College
Bethune Cookman University
Clemson University
Cleveland State University
Florida A&M University
Florida Atlantic University
Georgetown College
Jackson State University
Jefferson Community College
Johnson & Wales University
Kentucky State University
Lincoln University
Loyola University
Methodist University
New Mexico State University
Northern Kentucky University
Northwood University - FL
Oregon State University
San Jose State University
South Carolina State University
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
University of Texas Brownsville
Virginia Union University
Virginia State University
Winston Salem State University

Women's Independent Invitational:
Baldwin Wallace College
Benedict College
Bethune Cookman University
Florida State University
Indiana State University
Northwood University - FL
Old Dominion University
University of California State Monterey Bay
University of Texas-Pan American
University of Texas-San Antonio

About the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship
The PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship originated from a meeting in November 1986 following the Jackson State University Golf Tournament. The late Dr. Herschel Cochrane, Dr. Joe D. Saunders of the National Negro Golf Association, Jackson State University Golf Coach Eddie Payton, Rose Harper-Elder of the Sports Management Institute and William (Bill) Dickey founder of the Bill Dickey Scholarship Association and the 1999 PGA Distinguished Service Award winner, are credited as the founders of this Championship.

The goal was to elevate the game of golf in minority colleges and universities by giving them a chance to compete in a championship because of being denied opportunities to compete in NCAA Collegiate Golf events. The first Championship was conducted in the spring of 1987 at Highland Park Golf Course in Cleveland, Ohio. Since 1998, The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., has been host to the Championship.

In 2006, The PGA of America was granted complete ownership and management of the championship by the National Minority Collegiate Golf Scholarship Fund.

In 1990, a Career Fair was conducted for the first time in conjunction with the Championship to provide corporate sponsors the opportunity to interview and recruit outstanding college students for future employment. As a result, the Career Fair has developed into an invaluable resource to assist students in gaining internships and full-time positions within the golf industry.

Also, State Farm Insurance has extended its sponsorship to support the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship through 2010. The State Farm sponsorship provides funding of a one-hour Championship highlight program on Golf Channel. Students from participating schools in the 2008 Championship can apply to receive scholarship awards from State Farm Insurance for their academic excellence at their respective institutions.

About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $195 billion golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere.

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