Texas-Pan American grabs first-round lead at PGA Minority Championship

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- On a blustery Friday at PGA Golf Club, the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas, used a team effort to grab the first-round Division I Men's lead, while Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla., took the lead in the Women's Division at the 26th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship presented by Brown Capital Management.

The Championship features nearly 180 players representing over 40 colleges and universities. The 54-hole championship concludes Sunday.

Texas-Pan American, which opened with a team total of 294, owns a seven-stroke lead over Alabama State University. Tennessee State University is alone in third place at 302.

The Broncs were led by Santiago Bueno of Mexico, who opened with an even-par 72; and Kevin Kirakossian of Tualatin, Ore., who shot 73.

"The wind made it very difficult today, but I managed to finish very strong and help the team," said Bueno, who is competing in his second Championship. "This is my last college tournament, so I want to bring home a title and finish well."

Kirakossian, a veteran who is competing in his third Championship, was able to steady his round after a bogey on the par-5 first hole on the Wanamaker Course.

"I definitely didn't start the round like I wanted; you are supposed to birdie the par 5s out here," said Kirakossian, who was a member of the 2010 Championship squad. "But I was able to steady myself after that and finish well for the team."

The Bethune-Cookman women's team, which played on the adjacent Ryder Course and had a team total of 305, used a solid 72 by Patrizia Trevisan of Austria to grab a 19-stroke lead over South Carolina State University.

Texas-Pan American, the defending champion in the women's division, is in a tie for third with Hampton (Va.) University at 329.

"I had a rough start with two opening bogeys, but I recovered and am really happy with how I finished," said Trevisan, a freshman. "This tournament is so important and we want to win the title badly."

In Division II, Fayetteville State University grabbed an early 13-stroke lead over Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo.

The Broncos were led by Jedidah Frazier and Jake Barge, both of Fayetteville, N.C. Frazier opened with a 71, while Barge carded 72.

"The wind was just unbelievable and you had to hit fairways and greens in regulation to post a good score," said Barge. "I was really satisfied with my round and got the most out of what was a difficult day."

In the Men's Independent Division, Justin Watkins from the University of Central Oklahoma and Chris Davis of Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis., each shot an opening-round 74 and own a two-stroke lead over Louis Kelly of Adelphi University in New York.

"It was extremely windy out there today and I spent the whole day really grinding to shoot a good score," said Watkins. "Birdies were hard to come by, and I had three, and overall I am happy with how I performed."

In the Women's Independent Division, Mia Campbell of Alabama State University took the lead after an opening-round 83. She leads Arial McNair of Xavier University by one stroke.

For updates on the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship and other PGA of America events and programs, visit our twitter page, //twitter.com/ThePGAofAmerica and follow the conversation #2012MinorityChamp.

About the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship
The PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship presented by Brown Capital Management, which will celebrate its 26th edition this year, originated in November 1986 following the Jackson State University Golf Tournament and has elevated golf in minority colleges and universities by providing opportunities to more players to compete in a national 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 2008, the Championship featured a record number of participants, with nearly 200 students from 47 schools, with representatives from 14 countries.

First-Round Scores

Men's Team Division I
 
1. Texas-Pan American 294
Kevin Kirakossian 73
Santiago Bueno 72
Mathew Charles 74
Jonathan Sloss 75
Chris Felix 76
 
2. Alabama State 301
Scott Benson 77
John Montgomery 74
Jose Rodriguez 85
Robert Grant 73
Joseph Killebrew 77
 
3. Tennessee State 302
Cameron Scitern 74
Ryan Pierson 75
Dallas Hill 79
James Stepp 77
Andrew Warner 76
 
4. Savannah State 304
Cedomir Ilic 76
Travis Roe 76
Ryan Lassiter 75
Brandon Neals 77
Calib Simons 80
 
5. Arkansas at Pine Bluff 305
Caleb Ray 75
Nqobani Ndabambi 75
Gregory Robinson 78
Shane Kelly 77
Elliott Rollins, Jr. 86
 
T6. Bethune-Cookman 306
Matthew Mcknight 77
JaMichael Jones 80
Alex Clapp 74
Emmanuel Petrich 75
Rafael Abad 83
 
T6. Florida A&M 306
Justin Stills 78
Cody Sapp 80
Randon Holt 87
Anthony Phipps II 76
Shephard Archie III 72
 
T8. Texas Southern 322
Dominique Worthen 78
Jason Barton 78
Michael Calvillo 87
Quinton Leonard 93
Luis Colon Gonzalez 79
 
T8. Maryland-Eastern Shore 322
Mike Veverka 78
Greg Raad 81
Paul Cecil 82
Christopher Toney 81
Sedrick Bailey 92
 
10. North Carolina Central 333
Spencer Jones 78
Ryne Toole 83
Andre Jones 84
Walter Batts 88
Jack Waissen 115
 
11. Hampton 351
Geoffrey Napper 100
Curtis Fearrington 79
Mark Irwin 91
Tyler Davis 90
Sean Moore 91
 
Men's Team Division II
 
1. Fayetteville State 300
Jake Barge 72
Brandon Jobe 80
Jedidiah Frazier 71
Lincoln Jackson 77
Michael Wallace 81
 
2. Lincoln 313
Steven Mallow 84
Jacob Sandbothe 77
Kyle Brennaman 76
Eric Kosmatka 76
Jordan Morris 93
 
3. Virginia State 317
Stephen Genchi 70
Rashad Hunt 79
Aaron Bryant 88
Adam Clary 82
Dalton Jolly 86
 
4. Morehouse College 319
Bryan McElderry 78
Clifton Jordan 81
Justin McElderry 78
Alexander Atkinson 82
Bruce Cousin 85
 
T5. Paine College 341
Carlos Solis 76
Victor Tapia 82
Patrick Mobley 90
Ralpph Godbee 93
Keith Godbee 123
 
T5. Winston Salem State 341
Glendon Mabe 75
Zach Sheets 83
Wesley Griswold NC
Mike Asbury 86
Kyle Collins 97

7. Benedict College 344
Anthony Wik 83
Eddie Smith III 94
Jordan Buchanan 78
Kelly Willis 89
 
8. St. Augustine's College 357
Derek Johnson 85
Ryan Pittman 83
Antonio Daye 90
Antonio Deese 99
Keithon Walter NC
 
9. Kentucky State 362
George Dundon 89
Josh Jackson 83
RhoShawn Johnson 99
Carlton Foreman 104
Julian Jeter-Davis 91
 
Women's Team Division

1. Bethune-Cookman 305
Patrizia Trevisan 72
Estefania Acosta 78
Andrea Orozco 74
Marie Bergelin 81
Jennifer Hide 81
 
2. South Carolina State 324
Tiana Jones 82
Cheryl Chua 79
Carmen Jones 83
Cherie Chua 82
Cabriel Duren 81
 
T3. Hampton 329
Kayla Williams 80
Nicole West 83
Iman Ellis 87
Dionne West 81
Maria Stewart 85
 
T3. Texas-Pan American 329
Sam Garcia 80
Elena Arroyo 84
Blake Peterson 87
Marisa Canales 78
Ashley Garcia 89
 
5. Texas Southern 337
Kassandra Rivera 78
Adrianna Trevino 89
Bridget Johnston 89
Tyler Lawrence 85
Angela Rafac 85
 
6. Lincoln 351
Kaitlyn Schwartze 81
Payton Schooler 84
Shea Colley 87
Sophia Pardalos 100
Kara Harwood 99
 
Men's Independent Division

Christopher Davis, Carroll University - 74
Justin Watkins, University of Central Oklahoma - 74
Louis Kelly, Adelphi University - 76
Julio Gonzalez Galvan, Louisburg College - 77
Barry Davis, Alabama State University - 78
Aaron Burton, Adelphi University - 79
Michael Ferguson, Univ. of Maryland East Shore - 79
Buddy Senatore, California Polytechnic State Univ. - 80
Casey Foster, University of Central Oklahoma - 80
Joseph Morrison, Alabama State University - 82
Juan Diego Fernandez, Louisburg College - 83
Norris Brown, Univ. of Maryland East Shore - 84
Bryan Martin, Univ. of Maryland East Shore - 85
Erik Potts, Hannibal-LaGrange Univ. - 85
Joseph Journey, Univ. of Maryland East Shore - 85
Ben Davis, Calumet College of Saint Joseph - 86
Jacob Mendez III, Calumet College of Saint Joseph - 86
Edgar Evans Jr., Southern University Baton Rouge - 87
Minsoo Soh, Univ. of Maryland East Shore - 87
Corey Price, Alabama State University - 88
Anthony Long, Univ. of Maryland East Shore - 89
Lawrence McKenzie, Livingstone College - 89
Charlois R. Fletcher, Louisburg College - 96
Sean Wilson, Chowan University - 96
Michael Harden, Clemson University - 97
Delton Pounds, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC - 98
Patrick Harris, Methodist University - 98
Richard Sheppard, Univ. of Maryland East Shore - 98
Dylan Watts, Edward Waters College - 99
William Brown, Prarie View A&M - 100
Richard Fleming, Univ. of Maryland East Shore - 102
Spencer Smith, Edward Waters College - 112
Joseph Sable, Prarie View A&M - 117
 
Women's Independent Division

Mia Campbell, Alabama State Univ. - 83
Ariel McNair, Xavier University - 84
Whitney Young, Wheeling Jesuit University - 85
Shanequa Valentine, Prarie View A&M - 88
Vanessa Adarme, Bethune-Cookman Univ. - 91
Alexandra Uduk, Univ. of Maryland East Shore - 98
Michelle Gifford, Savannah State University - 98
Allison Brown, SCSU - 105
Cheiwah Ferguson, Texas Southern University - 106
Jamie Bruce, Bethune-Cookman University - 112
Jocelyn Williams, Savannah State University - WD