Complete first-round scores at bottom

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Michael Bailey of Mississippi's Jackson State University fired a 5-under-par 67 Friday to grab the lead after the first 18 holes in the Division I men's individual standings at the 22nd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship. The three-day event is being played over the Ryder and Wanamaker courses at the PGA Golf Club.

"Through the whole round I did not want to focus on my score, even though I knew I was playing really well," said Bailey, a senior from Dallas, Texas. "Lately I have been putting a lot of pressure on myself and it has been throwing me off."

Bailey carded six birdies and only one bogey in the opening round.

"I wanted to go out today and just play golf and hope that some putts fell into the cup, and luckily they did," said Bailey. "As a team we wanted to come out relaxed and put some good scores together, which we did as well."

Savannah (Ga.) State University and Florida A&M University share the overall lead in the Division I men's team standings with a 5-over-par 293, and hold a one-shot lead over Jackson State.

In Division II, Fayetteville State University of North Carolina leads Lincoln University of Jefferson City, Mo., by three strokes after firing a first round 1-under-par 287.

Ian Milne, a senior from Deland, Fla., led the Broncos through 18 holes after shooting a 4-under-par 68.

"I kept the ball in play all day and took advantage of some early opportunities for birdies during my round, said Milne, who is playing in his third Championship. "We want to make sure as a team that we do well and come out on top for the third year in a row."

In the NAIA Division, Johnson & Wales University of Miami, Fla., sits atop the leader board with a tournament low 3-under-par 285. Edward Waters College of Jacksonville, Fla., trails the Wildcats by 18 strokes.

Sam Aidan of Edward Waters leads the NAIA Division men's individual standings after firing an opening-round 67.

In the women's division, Bethune-Cookman College of Daytona, Fla., winner of the 2006 and 2007 Championships, carded a first-round team total of 309 to grab a one-stroke lead over the University of Texas-Pan-American in Edinburg.

Mariale Camey of Bethune-Cookman recorded the low-round for the women with a 3-over-par 75.

Alexis Garduno of Old Dominion University holds a two-shot lead over Maria Urquiola of Bethune-Cookman in the independent women's division after carding a 7-over-par 79.

"The last few holes left a bitter taste in my mouth but overall I had a great round, said Garduno, a junior from Sacramento, Calif. "I really wore down over the last few holes. The heat in Florida is much different then playing a season in Virginia."

In the Independent men's division, Armando Favela from Loyola (Ill.) University and Amit Odaiyar from Florida Atlantic University share the 18-hole lead at 1-under par 71.

"I did not make too many mistakes today and really capitalized on my putts," said Odaiyar, a freshman from Ocala, Fla. "Playing every week in Florida under these conditions and playing on these greens, I really feel like I have an advantage over someone who may be from another part of the country."

Nearly 200 contestants from 47 colleges and universities, representing 14 countries comprised the field for the 2008 PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship.

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.

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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