University of West Alabama and UConn’s Nabeel Khan Rise at 31st PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – A pair of 3-under-par 69s stole the show during the second round of the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship presented by CastleOak Securities. The Championship’s 31st edition is being held on PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker and Ryder Courses in Port St. Lucie. Sunday marks the final round of the 54-hole, stroke-play event, which features six divisions.

RELATED: Round one recap

After carding an opening-round, 1-under-par 71, the University of Connecticut’s Nabeel Khan (140) improved by two strokes on Saturday, thanks to birdies at three of his first four holes, to gain control of first place in the Men’s Individual Invitational. Defending champion and Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Siyan Liu, who trailed Khan by three heading into the day, kept pace with a 69 of his own (143). First-round leader Devery Stewart (Corban University) shot a 77 and fell to third place (147).

“I started off really well” said Khan, who will spend his summer caddying at the Jack Nicklaus-founded Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. “It was a confidence booster for sure. You can make birdies anywhere in the round but to get off to a strong start really had me going steady.”

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Tiana Jones posted a 2-over-par 74 (150) to take sole possession of first place in the Women’s Individual Invitational. Trailing by six strokes in second place is the University of West Alabama’s Kaitlyn Rose (156), who shared the first-round lead with Jones.

“I remained a bit more consistent today than yesterday,” said Jones, who studies in UMES’s PGA Golf Management University Program. “I really wasn’t focusing on my competitors or how many strokes I was gaining. I was just trying to go as low as I possibly could.

“If I’m leading, I will tell myself that I’m down to keep pushing myself.”

Sunday’s final round will begin with the Bethune-Cookman men (583) holding a commanding 18-stroke advantage over the University of the Incarnate Word (601) in Men’s Division I. Bethune-Cookman’s Sam Sloman, who was the lone Men’s Division I player to break par during round one (71), turned in a second-round, 2-over-par 74. Incarnate Word’s Cole Solis bounced back from a round-one 81 with a 3-under-par 69, joining Khan and Liu as the only players to break 70 on Saturday.

The Bethune-Cookman women strengthened their grasp on first place in the Women’s Division with a 297 in round two (592). Mackenzie Butzer, who carded Friday’s low-Championship round with a 69, followed up with a 3-over-par 75. Her teammate, Alejandra Sanchez, turned in Saturday’s low Women’s Division score with an even-par 72. Incarnate Word’s women remained in second place with a 304 (605).

A day-two shuffle occurred on the Men’s Division II leaderboard, as the University of West Alabama’s round-two 303 slid the Tigers into first place (616). Trailing by five strokes in second place are the two-time defending champion Cal State-Dominguez Hills Toros, paced by Andrew Banuelos’s second-round, even-par 72.

“We executed our game plan better today,” said Brian Williamson, Head Coach at the University of West Alabama. “I think the conditions were tougher today, but our focus was much better. We had what I call the three Cs: confidence, concentration and composure. You’ve gotta have all of them to compete at this level and on this type of golf course.”

The University of Houston-Victoria’s James Rollins fired a 1-under-par 71 on the Wanamaker, leading the way for the Jaguars, whose two-day total (621) is atop the NAIA Division leaderboard. Rollins and teammate Juan David Coy are tied (152) heading into Sunday’s final round with the NAIA Division medalist on the line.

The PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship presented by CastleOak Securities 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.

“We’re enjoying it,” said Williamson, who coached the University of Houston-Victoria the past three Championships. “It’s a magnificent event on a great golf course and a great setting.”
 

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PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship presented by CastleOak Securities
Saturday, May 13, 2017
PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie, Florida

***SECOND-ROUND SCORES***

Women’s Team
PGA Golf Club/Ryder Course

1. Bethune-Cookman University 295-297--592
Mackenzie Butzer 69-75--144
Alejandra Sanchez 76-72--148
Yudika Rodriguez 75-74--149
Shamiso Hatchard 75-78--153
Saraid Ruiz 77-76--153

2. Incarnate Word 301-304--605
Madison Frerking 73-74--147
Gracie Aday 74-77--151
Dabin Cleary 77-74--151
Samantha Aviles 77-79--156
Shannon Douglas 77-88--165

3. North Carolina A&T University 308-309--617
Sofia Alvarez 76-73--149
Jocelyn Andrews 73-82--155
Deja Smith 77-79--156
Jill Harvison 86-75--161
Erica Jackson 82-88--170

4. Chicago State University 313-308--621
Rainstar Roque 76-78--154
Fernanda Solis 79-77--156
Isabela Miravite 85-73--158
Felicia Davenport 80-80--160
Tali Letoi 78-85--163

5. Hampton University 333-331--664
Jakari Harris 84-81--165
Lauren Price 83-83--166
Britney Smith 85-81--166
Zora Moore 82-87--169
Treliah Samuels 84-86--170

6. Savannah State University 348-344--692
Rachele Orme 80-80--160
Brooke Griffin 86-88--174
Monique Veal 91-88--179
Kayla Jones 91-92--183
Cheyenne Willard 95-88--183

7. Delaware State University 358-369--727
Samyra Lewis 76-85--161
Ireanna Peete 82-85--167
Samantha Van Dort 94-96--190
Allison Ambrose 106-103--209

8. University of Houston-Victoria 366-363--729
Shelbi Vincent 83-79--162
Viviana Yzquierdo 83-91--174
Reid Whaley 97-89--186
Jo Ellen Canales 103-104--207

9. Lincoln University 388-375--763
Hanna Berendzen 88-86--174
Dominique Lee 91-97--188
Rylee Glenn 100-93--193
Madison Oliver 109-99--208
Chelsea Vinson 124-127--251

Men’s Division I
PGA Golf Club/Wanamaker Course

1. Bethune-Cookman University 288-295--583
Sam Sloman 71-74--145
Christian Hovstadius 72-73--145
Daniel Brennan 73-73--146
Marcus Sundlof 72-78--150
Joel Ramirez 78-75--153

2. Incarnate Word 302-299--601
Remy Huston 77-72--149
Caden Wylie 73-77--150
Cole Solis 81-69--150
Jeffrey Conflitti 76-81--157
Kevin Smith 76-84--160

3. Florida A&M University 306-310--616
Mahindra Lutchman 76-74--150
Prince Cunningham 75-78--153
Cameron Riley 78-77--155
Dennis Minefee 78-81--159
Chase Killette 77-88--165

4. NC Central University 313-305--618
Jordan Bohannon 77-75--152
Samuel Bradley 77-76--153
Zane Lewis 81-75--156
Sumner Tate 80-79--159
Nathan Corley 79-81--160

T5. Savannah State University 304-315--619
Zach Otto 72-75--147
Adam Walden 73-79--152
Cole Madison 76-79--155
Ethan Otterbein 87-82--169
Jaden Thiemann 83-88--171

T5. Tennessee State University 307-312-619
Jermey Fultz 76-72--148
Drew Owens 77-78--155
Todd McGill 76-81--157
Kody Rendleman 78-84--162
Rosario Falzone 83-81--164

7. Hampton University 318-341--659
Taylor Osborne 79-82--161
Alexander Rivera 81-85--166
Toiriste O'Neal 84-85--169
Jordan Samuels 77-93--170
Justin Bates 81-89--170

8. Maryland Eastern Shore 323-339--662
Blair Waters 79-70--149
Young Lee 72-80--152
Jabril Arnold 83-93--176
Christian Owens 89-96--185

9. Chicago State University 326-343-669
Austin Dobrescu 77-79--156
Miles Bailey 84-83--167
Cameron Boomer 82-86--168
Andre Reid 83-95--178

Men’s Division II
PGA Golf Club/Wanamaker Course

1. University of West Alabama 313-303-616
Brannon O'Pry 72-77--149
Mark Johnson 77-78--155
Alec Riley 83-74--157
Harris Stevens 81-77--158
Andrew Cronwright 83-75--158

2. Cal State-Dominguez Hills 316-305--621
Andrew Banuelos 75-72--147
Phillip Chan 79-78--157
Raynard Belmonte 80-77--157
William Yang 82-79--161
Miles Young 95-78--173

3. Lincoln University 307-317--624
Drew Geritz 74-76--150
Blake Lammers 77-76--153
Gabe Trowbridge 74-80--154
Deaven Vincent 82-85--167
Logan Taylor 84-85--169

4. Virginia Union University 314-322-636
Allan Day 74-80--154
Joshua Mohun 78-83--161
Paul Meints 81-81--162
Bartosh Kaminski 81-81--162
Robel Woldagabriel 85-80--165

5. Livingstone College 322-322-644
Philip Harrison 73-76--149
Stephen Washington 81-79--160
Harry Standberry 82-84--166
Telvin Walker 86-86--172
Lenorris Williams 94-83--177

6. Miles College 336-331--667
Kyle Kerns 81-79--160
Vitthal Parker 78-84--162
Jacob McCurry 90-82--172
Josh Lewis 87-86--173
Cameron Wilhite 92-88--180

7. Fayetteville State University 334-337--671
Adam Capps 79-78--157
Christian Villanueva 86-80--166
Nick Pennix 84-83--167
Austin Parlett 96-96--192
Isaiah Shaw 85-WD--85

8. Virginia State University 344-353-697
Samuel Reid 73-74--147
Darian Exum 84-87--171
Isaiah Belton 88-95--183
Nicolas Williams 99-97--196

NAIA
PGA Golf Club/Wanamaker Course

1. University of Houston-Victoria 315-306-621
Juan David Coy 75-77--152
James Rollins 81-71--152
Terry Strickland 79-79--158
Christian Esparza 80-79--159
Adrian Saenz 81-82--163

Women’s Individual
PGA Golf Club/Ryder Course

1. Tiana Jones, Maryland Eastern Shore 76-74--150
2. Kaitlyn Rose, University of West Alabama 76-80--156
3. Tasneem Ward, Savannah State University 86-85--171
4. Kendall Dunovant, Whitman College 92-82--174
T5. Josephina Oh, Maryland Eastern Shore 91-89--180
T5. Gaby Rivera-Garcia, Chowan University 84-96--180
7. Lizabeth Randles, Hampton University 103-84--187

Men’s Individual
PGA Golf Club/Ryder Course

1. Nabeel Khan, University of Connecticut 71-69--140
2. Siyan Liu, Palm Beach Atlantic University 74-69--143
3. Devery Stewart, Corban University 70-77--147
4. Isaac Calderon, Corban University 78-73--151
5. Junghoon Lee, UNLV 78-75--153
6. John Hulede, Towson University 74-80--154
7. Abhinav Walia, Bethune-Cookman University 77-78--155
T8. Royce Rosenthal, Warner Pacific College 80-76--156
T8. Dante Davis, Bethune-Cookman University 74-82--156
T10. Sergio Escalante, Virginia Union University 84-74--158
T10. Joseph Stills, University of West Florida 80-78--158
T12. Brandon Rincon, Albion College 81-78--159
T12. Rajai Cousley, Benedict College 80-79--159
14. Simon Maury, Bethune-Cookman University 78-82--160
15. Marcus Thompson, Livingstone College 78-85--163
16. Elijah Collins, Lake Forest College 86-78--164
17. Marqus Edwards, Benedict College 81-89--170
18. J.T. Moore, St. Augustine's University 92-80--172
19. Djimon Dixon, Paine College 90-83--173
T20. Eddie Crawford, Methodist University 92-86--178
T20. Jordan Hall, Methodist University 90-88--178
T22. Marquis Usher, Maryland Eastern Shore 95-86--181
T22. Terry Flowers, Meridian Community College 81-100--181
24. Khaliq Dansby, Miles College 96-94--190
25. Kendall White, St. Augustine's University 94-97--191