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Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M lead PGA Minority Collegiate C'ship
By Randy Stutzman
Published on
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Three-time defending women’s champion Bethune-Cookman University wasted no time taking the first-round women’s division lead, while Florida A&M University moved atop the Division I men’s division Friday at PGA Golf Club in the 29th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship.
The 2015 edition of the Championship features more than 220 players representing 50 colleges and universities, 12 countries and two U.S. territories. The 54-hole Championship concludes Sunday.
Florida A&M’s men’s team, which opened with an 11-over-par 299 total on the Wanamaker Course, owns a two-stroke lead over Alabama State University. Two-time defending Champion Bethune-Cookman University is in third place at 307.
FAMU’s Rattlers, who last won the Championship in 2000, were led by senior Lyron (“La-Ron”) Henderson, 23, of Long Beach, California, with a 2-under-par 70. Henderson is completing his first full collegiate golf season, having transferred in 2013 from the University of Texas-Austin, where he did not compete.
“It’s a great way to start off this Championship,” said Henderson, who began play on the 10th hole of the Wanamaker, and overcame a lost ball and a double bogey on the 15th hole. “I grinded it out and stayed consistent. I had a couple bad breaks, but conquered those demons. My ball on No. 15 kicked left into the brush. After that, I parred out to end the front nine, then birdied Nos. 1, 5 and 9 coming in.”
Henderson has been medalist several times this season, but focused on something that he had been missing since playing golf. “Our team rapport this year has been phenomenal,” he said. “This year is all about us coming together and building relationships.”
Alabama State junior Branson Ferrier of Barrie, Ontario, Canada, posted the day’s low round of 66, sparked by knocking in a seven-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th hole of the Wanamaker.
“It’s my third straight trip to the Championship and after an 82 in the first round last year, this made up for a lot,” said Ferrier, whose team made a 10½-hour bus trip to Port St. Lucie from the ASU campus in Montgomery, Alabama. “This was my second-lowest collegiate round, but my lowest of the year. It was great to arrive here and see how great these greens are. They are the best we play all year. You get the line and you have a feeling the ball will go in.”
Ferrier is a three-time ASU Most Valuable Player and competed in the 2013 Canadian Amateur, missing the cut. “A start like this makes you excited about the next two rounds,” he said.
Bethune-Cookman women's team, competing on the adjacent Ryder Course, used a 7-over-par 295 to grab an eight-stroke lead over the University of Houston-Victoria (303). Delaware State is in third at 312.
Freshman Mackenzie Butler Chatham, Ontario, led the Wildcats with a 72.
“I made a lot of really good swings and played smart golf,” said Butler. “And I'm really proud of how our team played, too. This was our best team score this year.”
In the Women's Individual Invitational, Cathleen Wong of Florida Gulf Coast University had a 72 on the Ryder Course. Defending Champion Tiana Jones, who transferred last year from South Carolina State University to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, matched Grace Chua of the University of Delaware with a 73.
In the Men's Individual Invitational, Palm Beach Atlantic University junior Benjarong Murray of Clearwater, Florida, made his debut on the Wanamaker by matching four birdies with four for a 72. He owns a three-stroke margin over a trio that included Clemson University junior Victor Choi, University of Nevada-Las Vegas junior Phil Soo Kim; and Arkansas-Pine Bluff senior Nqobani (“Nick-o-bonny”) Ndabambi (“Da-bom-bee”) of Johannesburg, South Africa.
In the Division II men’s competition, Cal State University Dominguez Hills leads at 306, followed by Livingstone College at 308, and Texas A&M International University is third at 312.
In the Men’s NAIA Division, University of Texas at Brownsville opened a commanding 15-stroke lead with a 3-under-par 285. University of Houston-Victor is next at 300, and Edward Waters College is third at 315.
“I’m beyond excited by our performance,” said Ocelots Coach Daniel Hayden. “You couldn’t ask for a better start this Championship. It’s a good position to be in.”
The PGA of America and the LPGA will jointly award the woman with the lowest overall score in the 2015 PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship an exemption into the Symetra Tour's Mission Health Wellness Classic, May 15-17, at the Country Club of Asheville in North Carolina.
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.
For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.org. Join the conversation about the 29th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship at #MinorityChamp.
29th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship
PGA Golf Club - Ryder and Wanamaker Courses
Port St. Lucie, Fla.
First-Round Scores
Men’s Team Division I
1. Florida A&M 299
Lyron Henderson 33-37—70
Dennis Minefee 39-36—75
Kevin Parker36-40—76
Omari Whitmore37-41—78
Anthony Phipps43-41—84
2. Alabama State 301
Branson Ferrier 32-34—66
Andrei Collins 37-40—77
Francis Berthiaume 40-39—79
Ian Mmbando 36-43—79
Jose Rodriguez 42-44—86
3. Bethune-Cookman 156-151—307
Ian Clark 35-39—74
Leon Fricker 40-36—76
Daniel Kovari 40-38—78
Jackson Kneeshaw 41-38—79
Alvaro Ramirez 43-41—84
4. Tennessee State 308
Andy Stout 35-38—73
Todd McGill 37-40—77
Jermey Fultz 35-44—79
Matthew Campbell 40-39—79
Dallas Hill 40-44—84
5. Incarnate Word 310
Austin Wylie 36-38—74
Kevin Smith 37-39—76
Myles Dumont 38-39—77
Christopher Martinez 43-40—83
Pedro Martinez 47-40—87
6. Maryland Eastern Shore 312
Bryce Young 35-39—74
Norman Blanco 38-38—76
Demarkis Cooper 38-41—79
Timothy Mitchell 45-38—83
7. Savannah State 313
Travis Roe 35-39—74
Brandon Neals 38-36—74
Riley Keagle 43-37—80
Hayden Barrows 42-43—85
Scott Rogers 42-47—89
8. Texas Southern 319
Renior Knox 40-36—76
Connor Mathers 39-41—80
Blake Lolato 41-40—81
Jarett Croff 40-42—82
Thomas McLaughlin 42-42—84
T9. Chicago State 322
David Keenan 39-39—78
Austin Egbers 40-38—78
Dan Patkunas 42-39—81
Drew Vannoy 42-43—85
Miles Bailey 47-41—88
T9. North Carolina Central 322
Garreth Carpenter38-40—78
Sumner Tate42-39—81
Michael Wilson38-43—81
Zane Lewis37-45—82
Jordan Bohannon43-39—82
11. Hampton 333
Toiriste O'Neal 40-41—81
Kenneth Gaither 37-44—81
JeVon Bell 41-44—85
Dawson Hobbs 41-45—86
Arthur Davis 41-50—91
12. Prairie View A&M 354
Gabriel Hernandez 43-39—82
Harold Carter III 44-45—89
John Jones 47-44—91
Jason Hudson 45-47—92
Vlryn Veal 50-45--95
Women’s Team Division
1. Bethune-Cookman 295
Mackenzie Butzer 37-35—72
Andrea Orozco 37-36—73
Patrizia Trevisan 36-37—73
Alice Plumb 39-38—77
Jennifer Hide 39-39--78
2. Houston-Victoria 303
Heather Shake 34-33—67
Rebecca Benchot 40-37—77
Hayley Harris 40-39—79
Shelbi Vincent 38-42—80
Brooke Brasseaux 42-39--81
3. Delaware State 312
Elaine Peete 38-36—74
Suchada Anusuriya 39-37—76
Brooke Foster 41-40—81
Ireanna Peete 41-40—81
Samyra Lewis 43-39--82
4. Hampton 314
Cheryl Chua 37-34—71
Zora Moore 39-38—77
Britney Smith 37-42—79
Treliah Samuels 44-43—87
Milan James 45-45—90
5. Texas Southern 315
Kassandra Rivera 35-38—73
Cherie Chua 42-37—79
Carmen Gonzales 43-38—81
Allison Flores 42-40—82
Jalyn Kuykendall43-44--87
6. Chicago State 317
Fernanda Valdes Solis 38-37—75
Talialaina Letoi 36-41—77
Pia Serrano 45-37—82
Taneka Sandiford 43-40—83
Tianna Ford 44-42—86
7. Texas A&M International 344
Begona Aranguren 40-40—80
Sasha Linauskas 42-42—84
Abigail Palacios 44-44—88
Hannah Jiao 48-44—92
Amber Lopez 51-46--97
8. Texas at Brownsville 345
Deanna Portillo 42-40—82
Veronika Vasquez 40-42—82
Angela Zepeda 43-43—86
Leanna Saenz 45-50--95
9. Lincoln University 352
Sophia Pardalos 38-44—82
Mackenzie Wilson 42-42—84
Lauren McHenry 45-41—86
Hanna Berendzen 50-50—100
Men’s Team Division II
1. Cal State Dominguez Hills 306
Cameron MacDonald 39-36—75
Bret Gleason 39-37—76
Shane Kowal 39-38—77
Ryan Saldana 39-39—78
Brantly Blew 37-43—80
2. Livingstone College 308
Phillip Harrison 35-36—71
Telvin Walker 39-38—77
Harry Standberry 43-36—79
Stephen Washington 41-40—81
Lennoris Williams 42-39—81
3. Texas A&M International 312
Steven Martinez 38-37—75
Sammie Goldfarb III 40-37—77
Rogelio Jimenez 39-39—78
Andres Aranguren 36-46—82
Zachary Jackson 39-44—83
4. Fayetteville State 317
Jared Chinn 36-36—72
Brandon Jobe 38-37—75
Christopher Jackson 40-41—81
Cameron Hughes 44-45—89
Corbin Rascoe NC
5. Lincoln 319
Blake Lammers 37-34—71
Austin Ruediger 42-39—81
Cody Shaw 38-44—82
Drew Geritz 41-44--85
6. Morehouse College 320
Anthony Body 39-40—79
Harvey Allen 38-41—79
Tommy Swearingen 43-38—81
Justin McElderry 41-40—81
Caleb May 46-42--88
7. Benedict College 333
Kelly Allen 40-36—76
Eddie Smith 43-40—83
Rajai Cousley 40-44--84
Rhalston Jones 44-46—90
Marques Edwards 44-46—90
8. Miles College 352
Jacob McCurry 38-41—79
Vitthal Parker 38-45—83
Khaliq Dansby 44-45—89
Michael Fegan 45-56—101
Marcel Pickett 61-61—122
9. LeMoyne-Owen College 436
Anthony Smith 44-51—95
Darryl Lewis 51-50—101
Kemario Davis 60-55—115
Kevon Eskridge 59-66—125
Christian Coburn NC
Men’s NAIA Division
1. Texas at Brownsville 285
Gage Murphy 35-35—70
Saad Milan 36-35—71
Angel Aguirre 36-35—71
Justin Kitten 36-37—73
Stevan Hinojosa 37-39—76
2. Houston-Victoria 300
Vance Edwards 33-37—70
Will Hicks 38-35—73
Cristian Esparza 38-39—77
Steven Jones 39-41—80
Jake Truss NC
3. Edward Waters College 315
Guido Vidotto 39-36—75
Bartosh Kaminsk i38-39—77
Robel Woldagrie l41-40—81
Alvin Vicioso 40-42—82
4. Haskell Indian Nations 316
William Wilson 37-37—74
Josiah Kurley 42-36—78
Deryk Speck 44-38—82
Joshua Little Axe 43-39—82
Trevor Pueblo 42-45--87
Women’s Individual Invitational
1. Cathleen Wong, Florida Gulf Coast University 36-36—72
T2. Grace Chua, University of Delaware 34-39—73
T2. Tiana Jones, University of Maryland Eastern Shore 36-37—73
4. Rachele Orme, Savannah state university 35-40—75
5. Sydney Woolfolk, Savannah state University 41-39—80
T6. Adriana Trevino, Texas Southern University 42-40—82
T6. Hillary Washington, Texas Southern University 40-42—82
8. Jocelyn Williams, Savannah State University 42-42—84
9. Sierra Everson, University of Akron 45-42—87
10. Iyana Monagan, Delaware State University 46-42--88
11. Taylor Schwarz, Northern Kentucky University 52-44--96
12. Briana Trevino, Texas Southern University 49-51--100
Men’s Individual Invitational
1. Benjarong Murray, Palm Beach Atlantic University 35-37--72
T2. Victor Choi, Clemson University 41-34--75
T2. Nqobani Ndabambi, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 38-37--75
T2. Phil Soo Kim, University of Nevada, Las Vegas 34-41--75
T5. Will Smart II, Alabama A&M 39-37--76
T5. Dominique Worthen, LeMoyne-Owen College 36-40--76
T5. Danny De Los Santos, Mississippi Gulf Coast38-38--76
T5. Siyan Liu, Palm Beach Atlantic University 39-37--76
T5. Joseph Stills, University of West Florida 38-38--76
T10. Charles Griffin, Alabama State University 41-36--77
T10. Matthew Chen, Florida Gulf Coast University 38-39--77
T10. John Hulede, Towson University 40-37--77
T10. Taylor Nelson, Virginia Union University 40-37—77
T14. Gavin Parker, Campbell University 39-39--78
T14. William Godfrey, Francis Marion University 38-40--78
16. Curtis Vinson, Elizabeth City State University 41-38--79
T17. William Wells, Texas Southern University 39-42--81
T17. Martre Lind, Texas Southern University 43-38--81
T17. Kevin Lim, University of Nevada, Las Vegas 45-36--81
20. Matthew Dismuke, Universlty of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 40-42--82
T21. Luther Thompson II, Meridian Community College 43-40--83
T21. Josiah Brown, Texas Southern University 41-42--83
23. Dominique Johnson, Allegany College Of Maryland 44-40--84
T24. Jahmar Seltzer, Allegany College of Maryland 42-43--85
T24. Marquis Usher, University of Maryland Eastern Shore40-45--85
T26. Brencis Stanford, Johnson C. Smith University 42-44--86
T26. Luis Colon, Texas Southern University 42-44--86
T26. Kijontray McClay, University of Maryland Eastern Shore 40-46--86
T29. William White, Elizabeth City State University 42-45--87
T29. Patrick Harris, University of Maryland Eastern Shore 44-43--87
T31. Daniel Castano, Methodist University 48-40--88
T31. Jordan Hall, Methodist University 46-42--88
T31. Josiah Singletary, Methodist University 45-43--88
T34. Michael Harden, Clemson University 43-46--89
T34. Johanan Edmeade, Johnson C. Smith University 45-44--89
T34. Joshua Steger, Johnson C. Smith University 46-43--89
T34. Brandon Bolling, Lewis University 45-44--89
38. Keilan Sullivan, Prarie View A&M University 46-45--91
39. Robert Calvin Mason, Johnson C. Smith University 45-47—92
40. Nivel Felicien, University of Maryland Eastern Shore 48-45--93
41. Brandon Bailey, Virginia Union University 46-49--95
42. Eddie Crawford, Methodist University 50-55--105
Andre Reid, Chicago State University DQ
Jon Seward, University of Maryland Eastern Shore WD
Michael Ferguson, University of Maryland Eastern Shore WD
Sedrick Bailey, University of Maryland Eastern Shor WD
