“Scooter” Clark as Manager of the PGA Minority Collegiate Championship
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (May 12, 2018) – For Bethune Cookman University, it was yet another impressive example of a dynasty in cruise control at the 32nd PGA Minority Collegiate Championship at PGA Golf Club.
The Wildcats captured a record seventh-straight—and 15th overall—Women’s crown in collegiate golf’s most culturally significant Championship. Meanwhile, the Men’s team notched their third-consecutive PGA Minority Collegiate Championship and 10th title overall.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MAY 12: Marcus Thompson of Livingstone College hits his tee shot on the first hole of the Ryder course during Round Two for the 32nd PGA Minority Collegiate Championship at PGA Golf Club on May 12, 2018 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Traci Edwards/PGA of America)
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MAY 11: Dante Davis of Bethune Cookman University watches his tee shot on the second hole of the Wanamaker course during Round One for the 32nd PGA Minority Collegiate Championship at PGA Golf Club on May 11, 2018 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Traci Edwards/PGA of America)
“This is overwhelming,” said Butzer. “This is my last year, and I gave it all I had. I had fun and played easy. Everything seemed to be clicking.”
Meanwhile, the Bethune Cookman men (286-282-286 854) shot 10-under par for the Championship, winning by an amazing 57 strokes over Savannah State on the Wanamaker Course. The University of Incarnate Word placed third.
For Bethune Cookman, it was a three-day showcase of utmost command. After closing out the Championship on No. 18, the women’s team sprayed the men’s team with a water bottle shower that would have rivaled a dramatic victory celebration.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MAY 12: Jakari Harris of Hampton University hits out of the bunker on the 17th hole on the Ryder course during Round Two for the 32nd PGA Minority Collegiate Championship at PGA Golf Club on May 12, 2018 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Traci Edwards/PGA of America)
Danny Forshey, Head Coach, Alcorn State Uni.
“It was so fun to see our student-athletes end the season like this,” said Bethune Cookman Head Coach Danny Forshey.
The Bethune Cookman Men were led by medalist Marcus Sundlof, of Sweden (65-70-71 206), who bested his teammate Christian Hovstadius for the honor by seven strokes.
“It feels great,” said Sundlof, a sophomore who overcame a wrist injury at the beginning of the year. “We had a lot of team wins, but I wasn’t playing well personally. It’s great to finish off the year this way.”
A history of excellence in the Championship was the overall theme for each team division winner.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MAY 12: Ireanna Peete of Delaware State University gathers for a photo with family during Round Two for the 32nd PGA Minority Collegiate Championship at PGA Golf Club on May 12, 2018 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Traci Edwards/PGA of America)
Division II was won by California State University-Dominguez Hills for the third time in the past four years, as the Toros recorded a 15-shot victory over Lincoln University. Virginia Union’s Sergio Escalante took Division II Medalist honors with a 54-hole Championship total of 220.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MAY 13: Lizabeth Randles from Hampton University hits her shot on the 12th hole during the Final Round for the 32nd PGA Minority Collegiate Championship at PGA Golf Club on May 13, 2018 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Traci Edwards/PGA of America)
“This tournament is always challenging,” said Toros Head Coach Ron Eastman. “The rankings don’t matter, because everyone plays from the heart.”
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MAY 12: Josephy Stills of the University of West Florida hits his tee shot on the 17th hole of the Ryder course during Round Two for the 32nd PGA Minority Collegiate Championship at PGA Golf Club on May 12, 2018 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Traci Edwards/PGA of America)
Despite starting its golf program eight years ago, the University of Houston-Victoria won its third-straight NAIA title—and a Division record fourth overall—by defeating runner-up Governors State by 12 strokes. The two teams started the day four strokes apart, before Houston-Victoria pulled away. Governors State’s Matt Contey was NAIA medalist with a three-day total of 222.
“It was tough competition,” said Houston-Victoria Head Coach Christi Cano. “We had to grind it out for our victory today.”
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MAY 12: Loritz “Scooter” Clark speaks with a coach during Round Two for the 32nd PGA Minority Collegiate Championship at PGA Golf Club on May 12, 2018 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Traci Edwards/PGA of America)
For the second straight year, the Men’s Individual title was won by the University of Connecticut’s Nabeel Kahn, who overcame a rusty start to the Championship for a 2-under par final round 70 (75-70-70 215) to win by 12 strokes over both Palm Beach Atlantic’s Siyan Liu and West Florida’s Joseph Stills. “Any win is a good feeling,” said Khan. “I started rough on the first day. It wasn’t like an outright win. It was grit.”
The Women’s Individual prize was earned by St. John’s (N.Y.) University sophomore Linda Wang (72-73-73 218), who defeated runner-up Rachelle Orme of Savannah State by nine strokes.
In a weather-related quirk designed to get ahead of the heavy rains forecasted to arrive from Mother Nature on Mother’s Day, the final round actually began on Saturday, as the teams played 27 holes overall, including the first nine holes of the Championship’s final stanza. The final nine holes were completed on Sunday morning in slightly rainy and muggy conditions.
The PGA Minority Collegiate Championship is the most culturally significant championship in collegiate golf. In 2006, the PGA of America was granted complete ownership and management by the National Minority Collegiate Golf Scholarship Fund.
