Wildcats win 28th Minority Collegiate Golf Championships
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The Bethune-Cookman University men’s golf team successfully defended its PGA Minority Championship from a season ago Sunday, as the Wildcats took home the team championship at the 28th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship on the Wanamaker Course in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Bethune-Cookman withstood a final-round charge by Florida A&M University, which entered the round in fourth place, to win the division by eight strokes. Alabama State University finished third, 11 strokes back of Bethune-Cookman.
The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats were led by senior Rafael Abad, who closed with a 1-under-par 71 for a 218 total.
“It was very close at the end, but our team pulled it out,” said Abad. “This is the best year of golf I’ve ever had and it feels great to win as a team.”
Both Bethune-Cookman and Alabama State will be competing in NCAA regionals next week. The Wildcats will travel to the Raleigh [N.C.] Regional, hosted by NC State, after winning the inaugural Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship last weekend in Savannah, Ga.
Dominick Vennari of Florida A&M University won medalist honors in the Men’s Division I competition, closing with a 69 for a 215 total.
With Abad leading the charge for the Cats on Sunday, both Leon Fricker (79-72-73=224, +8) and Emmanuel Petrich (78-74-73=225, +9) collected 1-over-par 73 rounds to assist the scoring.
Senior Matthew McKnight (69-81-76=226, +10), Friday’s opening-round leader with a season-low 3-under-par 69, bounced back from a second-round 81, turning in a 4-over-par 76 in his final round.
Ryan Fricker (78-77-72=227, +11), the MEAC Individual Champion for 2014, fired his best round in Sunday’s finale, registering an even-par 72.
“This Championship is always tight and hard fought, with the Championship really starting on the back nine on Sunday,” said Clark. “The women’s team came together well this weekend and I’m really proud of how both teams performed. It’s incredibly satisfying as a coach.”
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.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
NCCU places eighth at PGA Minority Collegiate Championship
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The North Carolina Central University men’s golf team closed out the season by placing eighth at The 28th PGA Minority Collegiate Championship at The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Sunday.
As a team, the Eagles posted a three-round total of 962 to finish two strokes behind seventh-place Arkansas-Pine Bluff and 10 strokes behind sixth-place Texas Southern.
Playing in his final college competition, NCCU senior Glendon Mabe (Ether, N.C.) used two eagles and two birdies on the back-nine of the Wanamaker course to card a team-best 74 (+2) to tie for 19th place on the individual leaderboard.
Fellow NCCU senior J.T. Thomas tallied a 75 in his career-ending round, while sophomore Garreth Carpenter posted an 80 and sophomore Michael Wilson added an 81.
NCCU was without the services of seniors Spencer Jones and Andre Jones, who opted to participate in the university’s graduation ceremony on Saturday.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Savannah State finishes season atop leaderboard
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Savannah State men’s golf, led by junior Travis Roe, finished fourth in the NCAA Division I Men’s Team bracket at the 28th annual PGA National Minority Championship this past weekend to close out the 2013-14 golf season.
Roe opened the 54-hole, three-day Championship one-over-par (73). In the second round on Saturday, Roe shot a five-under-par 67 (11 pars, one bogey, and six birdies) to help the Tigers maintain their third place standings. Roe’s Saturday carding was the lowest 18-hole score of the Championship.
On Sunday, in the final round, Roe finished with a 76 for a three-day total of 216 and second place in the individual race.
The Tigers finished with a team score of 903 for fourth place, 19 strokes behind repeat champions Bethune-Cookman (884).
SSU Junior Brandon Neals shot a three-round score of 223 (72, 79 and 72), followed by junior Scott Rogers with a 228 (75, 80 and 73). Trevor Podner closed out his freshman season with a 241 (85, 76 and 80), and Caleb Simons concluded his junior season with a 242 (81, 82 and 79).
Cookman was led by Rafael Abad (218), Leon Fricker (224), Emmanuel Petrich (225), and Matthew McKnight (226). Ryan Fricker, who won the 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Individual medalist honors, shot a 227.
Fellow MEAC rivals Florida A&M finished second with a team score of 892. The Rattlers were led by Dominick Vennari who won medalist honors for the Championship, beating Roe by one stroke with a 215 (77, 69 and 69).
Alabama State finished third with a team score of 895. Chicago State (929) finished fifth, followed by Texas Southern (952), Arkansas at Pine Bluff (960), North Carolina Central (962), Maryland Eastern Shore (976), Hampton University (985), and Prairie View (1064).
For complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com