PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman University senior Matthew McKnight fired an opening-round 3-under-par 69 on Friday, helping the Wildcats Men’s Golf squad to the top of the team leaderboard after 18 holes in the Division I Men's competition at the 28th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship. The three-day event is being housed on the Wanamaker Course in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

The 2014 edition of the Championship features nearly 200 players representing more than 40 colleges and universities. The 54-hole Championship concludes Sunday.

The Bethune-Cookman men’s team, which opened with a 10-over-par 298 total on the Wanamaker Course, took a two-stroke lead over Alabama State University. Savannah State University is in third place at 301.

Both Bethune-Cookman and Alabama State will be competing in NCAA regionals next week, following the Wildcats winning the inaugural Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Men’s Golf Championship in Savannah, Ga. The Cats travel next week to the NCAA Raleigh [N.C.] Regional.

Bethune-Cookman was led by senior Matthew McKnight, who shot 3-under-par 69 on the Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club. The Lisburn, Northern Ireland native registered his first sub-70 round of the year, and was just two strokes off a new career-low outing.

Fellow Bethune-Cookman senior Rafael Abad shot a 1-over-par 73, while sophomore Ryan Fricker suffered through a season-high round of 6-over-par (78). Fricker is the 2014 MEAC Individual Champion in the tournament field.

Senior Emmanuel Petrich also fired a 6-over-par 78 for the Cats, while sophomore Leon Fricker shot a 7-over-par 79. Friday’s 79 round for the younger Fricker was just one shy of a season-high round for the 2014 B-CU Gary Freeman Spring Invitational individual champion.

Play resumes Saturday with 18 holes, as the Wildcats look to tee-off at 8:30 a.m.

The PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship, which originated in November 1986 following the Jackson State University Golf Tournament, 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.