Bethune-Cookman men and women lead after 36 holes at PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship

 

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PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Both the men and women of Bethune-Cookman University hold second-round leads at the 30th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship, which is being contested at PGA Golf Club. The 54-hole, stroke-play Championship, which consists of six divisions (four team, two individual), concludes Sunday.

 

While Bethune-Cookman's women (597) hold a sizable advantage – 22 shots – in the Women’s Division over second-place Chicago State University and seem destined to collect their record fifth consecutive PGA Minority Championship, Loritz “Scooter” Clark’s men are in a tussle with a group of upstarts from Tennessee State University in Men’s Division I.     

 

Riding the coattails of Drew Owens, who fired a second-round 74 amid windy conditions at PGA Golf Club, Tennessee State (603) is only three strokes behind Bethune-Cookman (600). 

 

Following a breezy, but comfortable, loop on the Wanamaker Course, Owens said the primary difference maker was “the wind. It’s a lot harder out there today than it was [Friday].” 

 

After opening with a 71 on Friday, Owens enjoyed Saturday’s showdown with Joel Ramirez of Bethune-Cookman. The two freshmen posted identical two-day totals of 145 (71-74) and are tied for the low score among Men’s Division I.

 

“Playing with Joel is really cool, although he hits it about 30 yards further than I do” admitted Owens, who hails from Atlanta. “Keeping up with him is an honor. He’s talented, and just a freshman, too.”

 

Owens is equally as impressed and excited about his team’s ability to keep up with Bethune-Cookman, which sports seven team Minority Collegiate Championships on the men’s side, including three in the previous five years (2011, ’13, ’14). 

 

“Bethune-Cookman has an amazing history in this Championship, having won it so many times,” said Owens. “So for us to be right up there with them feels great.” 

 

Nine shots off the pace entering the second round, Fayetteville State University (609) surged into a one-shot lead over California State University Dominguez Hills (610) in the Division II Men’s competition. Opening-round leader Texas A&M International University slid to third at 617. Stellar efforts from senior Christopher Jackson (73) and freshman Isaiah Shaw (72) allowed the Broncos to catapult past three teams into Division II’s top spot.

 

For Fayetteville State Head Coach Anthony Carstarphen, today’s team effort on the Ryder Course was as pleasing as it was a long time coming. 

 

“Today was satisfying. I think the kids are happy with themselves because they played good golf and were able to pick up their team captain (Jared Chinn). It was a team effort. It’s lovely, really. I am excited for the school, the program and the kids.”

 

The University of Houston-Victoria, at 629, leads the NAIA Division, which was played on the Wanamaker Course.

 

Tiana Jones of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, who is seeking her third consecutive Women’s Individual Invitational at the PGA Minority Championship, sits at 150 after posting a second straight 75. She leads Cathleen Wong (159) of Florida Gulf Coast University by nine shots. Jones is representing UMES’s PGA Golf Management Program this week on the Ryder Course.

 

The PGA of America and the LPGA will jointly award the woman with the lowest overall score in the 2016 PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship an exemption into the upcoming Symetra Tour’s Island Resort Championship in Harris, Michigan (June 24-26) or the Tullymore Classic in Canadian Lakes, Michigan, Michigan (July 1-3). 

 

Another UMES golfer, Norman Blanco, leads the Men’s Individual Invitational, which is being contested on the Wanamaker Course. Blanco’s 74-76 (150) two-day total is good for a two-stroke lead over James Lee of Rice University and Benjarong Murray of Palm Beach Atlantic University.  

 

The PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship has elevated golf in minority colleges and universities by providing opportunities for players to compete in a national championship. In 2006, the PGA of America was granted complete ownership and management by the National Minority Collegiate Golf Scholarship Fund.

 

30th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship presented by CastleOak Securities

Saturday, May 7, 2016

PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie, Florida

 

Second-Round Scores:

 

Men's Division I

PGA Golf Club - Wanamaker

 

1. Bethune-Cookman University 296-304--600 

Joel Ramirez 71-74--145 

Connor O'Brien 75-73--148 

Bradley Peil 76-77--153 

Jackson Kneeshaw 74-80--154 

Leon Fricker 76-84--160

 

2. Tennessee State University 295-308--603 

Drew Owens 71-75--146 

Jermey Fultz 75-77--152 

Todd McGill 74-78--152 

Sam Gatlin 80-78--158 

Rosario Falzone 75-83--158

 

3. Savannah State University 314-318--632 

Kevin Metzger 77-74--151 

Adam Walden 77-78--155 

Zach Otto 80-79--159 

Riley Keagle 80-87--167

 

4. University of Maryland Eastern Shore 317-326--643 

Blair Waters 77-77--154 

Demarkis Cooper 78-80--158 

Darius Davis 79-80--159 

Timothy Mitchell 83-89--172 

Christian Owens 95-94--189

 

5. North Carolina Central University 331-314--645 

Jordan Bohannon80-75--155 

Zane Lewis 76-79--155 

Sumner Tate 83-80--163 

Jerome Bostwick 92-80--172 

Michael Wilson 94-89--183

 

6. Florida A&M University 322-325--647 

Omari Whitmore 77-77--154 

Kevin Parker 77-78--155 

Dennis Minefee 83-82--165 

Brian Bowman 85-88--173

 

7. Chicago State University 333-328--661 

Brendan Baldwin 79-75--154 

iles Bailey 84-85--169 

Drew Vanoy 83-87--170 

Austin Egbert 87-83--170 

Brandon Skelding 87-85--172

 

 

Women's Team Division

PGA Golf Club - Ryder

 

1. Bethune-Cookman University 295-302--597 

Saraid Ruiz 75-72--147 

Shamiso Hatchard 73-74--147 

Mackenzie Butzer 73-78--151 

Yudika Ann Rodriguez 74-78--152 

Alejandra Sanchez 75-79--154

 

2. Chicago State University 303-316--619 

Rachel Johnson 74-78--152 

Felicia Davenport 77-75--152 

Fernanda Valdes Solis 76-78--154 

Talialaina Letoi 76-85--161 

Taneka Sandiford 77-88--165

 

3. Hampton University 334-331--665 

Britney Smith 79-80--159 

Zora Moore 83-83--166 

Treliah Samuels 83-83--166 

Milan James 93-85--178 

JiHyun Park 89-92--181

 

4. Tennessee State University 332-335--667 

Natalie Spicer 83-75--158 

Sarah Needleman 78-82--160 

Kelly Merkel 81-81--162 

Paige Harlin 90-97--187

 

5. Texas A&M International University 335-347--682 

Stephanie Gonzalez 81-81--162 

Bailey McCawley 83-83--166 

Sasha Linauskas 82-89--171 

Hannah Jiao 89-95--184 

Mitzi Cantu 93-94--187

 

6. University of Houston-Victoria 359-348--707 

Shelbi Vincent 75-79--154 

Brooke Brasseaux 79-80--159 

Reid Whaley 99-93--192 

Jo Ellen Canales 106-96--202

 

 

Men's Division II

PGA Golf Club - Wanamaker

 

1. Fayetteville State University 308-301--609 

Christopher Jackson 76-73--149 

Isaiah Shaw 78-72--150 

Jared Chinn 74-77--151 

Christian Villanueva 80-79--159 

Austen Parlett 93-88--181

 

2. California State University Dominguez Hills 304-306--610 

Andrew Banuelos 77-74--151 

Bret Gleason 76-76--152 

Drew Dufresne 76-77--153 

Christopher Pham 75-79--154 

William Yang 85-83--168

 

3. Texas A&M International University 299-318--617 

Steven Martinez 70-75--145 

Zach Jackson 75-78--153 

Benjamin Page 75-79--154 

Sam Goldfarb, III 79-86--165 

Adam Jefferson 96-88--184

 

4. Livingston College 305-314--619 

Philip Harrison 74-73--147 

Stephen Washington 74-78--152 

Lenorris Williams 74-83--157 

Harry Standberry 83-80--163 

Telvin Walker 86-86--172

 

5. Miles College 311-326--637 

Vitthal Parker 76-79--155 

Jacob McCurry 77-79--156 

Kyle Kerns 77-81--158 

Cameron Wilhite 81-87--168 

Josh Lewis 84-90--174

 

6. Lincoln University 319-321--640 

Blake Lammers 75-79--154 

Deaven Vincent 77-80--157 

Cody Shaw 86-78--164 

Drew Geritz 81-86--167 

Jacob Womack 89-84--173

 

7. Benedict College 336-317--653 

Mohammed Nu-Mann 79-80--159 

Kelly Allen 83-79--162 

Rajai Cousley 85-78--163 

Rhaston Jones 89-80--169 

Marqus Edwards 89-84--173

 

8. Morehouse College 326-333--659 

Lennard Long 82-78--160 

Harvey Allen 79-81--160 

Anthony Body 81-87--168 

Tommy Swearingen 84-87--171 

Kenneth Dames 95-99--194

 

9. Virginia Union University 342-340--682 

Bartosh Kaminski 79-79--158 

Joshua Mohun 81-79--160 

Brandon Bailey 87-88--175 

Austin Haynes 95-95--190 

Ricardo Andrews 102-94--196

 

10. Elizabeth City State College 358-343--701 

Curtis Vinson 81-79--160 

Tyler Futrell 84-82--166 

William Fallon 84-82--166 

Daniel Nobles 109-100--209

 

 

NAIA Division

PGA Golf Club - Wanamaker

 

1. University of Houston-Victoria 316-313--629 

Cristian Esparza 80-76--156 

Hunter Huff 78-78--156 

Adrian Saenz 80-80--160 

Kaleb Presley 83-79--162 

Kirby Amburg 78-85--163

 

 

Women's Individual Invitational

PGA Golf Club - Ryder

 

1. Tiana Jones, University of Maryland Eastern Shore 75-75--150

2. Cathleen Wong, Florida Gulf Coast University 80-79--159

3. Rachele Orme, Savannah State University 80-82--162

4. Pia Serrano, Chicago State University 81-87--168

5. Sydney Woolfolk, Savannah State University 91-87--178

6. Jasmin Cunningham, University of Maryland Eastern Shore 95-92--187

 

 

Men's Individual Invitational

PGA Golf Club - Wanamaker

 

1. Norman Blanco, University of Maryland Eastern Shore 74-76--150

T2. James Lee, Rice University 74-78--152

T2. Benjarong Murray, Palm Beach Atlantic University 76-76--152

4. Siyan Liu, Palm Beach Atlantic University 80-74--154

5. James Blackwell, Ball State  University 74-81--155

6. William Godfrey, Francis Marion University 78-78--156

T7. Phil Soo Kim, University of Nevada, Las Vegas 79-80--159

T7. DeJuan Powell, Johnson C. Smith Universirty 79-80--159

T7. Angel Ramos, Florida Institute of Technology 83-76--159

10. Noel Sims, South Mountain Community College 86-74--160

11. Albert Jennings, Ball State University 81-81--162

12. Kenneth Gaither, Hampton University 84-82--166

T13. Jerrell Hubbard, Paine College 86-84--170

T13. Brandon Rincon, Albion College 82-88--170

15. Trevor Pueblo, Haskell Indian Nations 87-94--181

16. Joshua Steger, Johnson C. Smith University 94-89--183

17. Jordan Hall, Methodist University 95-92--187

18. Stephen Fitzgerald, University of Maryland Eastern Shore 90-106--196

19. Marquis Usher, University of Maryland Eastern Shore 97-100--197

20. Djimon Dixon, Paine College 97-105--202

21. Eddie Crawford, Methodist University 99-104--203

22. Khaliq Dansby, Miles College 101-105--206

--- Toiriste (TJ) O'Neal, Hampton University 82-WD--WD