Bethune-Cookman University raised the bar it has set in women’s golf by earning a record 12^th title, while Alabama State University’s men’s quintet captured its first team crown Sunday at the 29^th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship held May 8 – 10, 2015 at the PGA Golf Club on the Ryder and Wanamaker Courses in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
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Bethune-Cookman, behind senior Jennifer Hide’s closing 2-under-par 70, recorded an unprecedented fourth consecutive championship by a 33-stroke margin over the University of Houston-Victoria. The Wildcats finished their three days’ work on the Ryder Course with a total of 880.

 

“It never gets old to win the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship,” said Bethune-Cookman Head Coach and PGA Professional Loritz “Scooter” Clark. “I was glad that we had a little bit of a comfortable lead for once. We’ll celebrate today and look to hopefully repeat next year.”

 

Hide, a 21-year-old senior from Norfolk, England, had a 70, and 3-over-par 219 total, to lead the Wildcats.

 

“We work for this tournament throughout the year, and when we get here, we know that we have made the right preparations,” said Hide. “I really liked this course; it’s my favorite course to play.”

 

Alabama State Men’s Golf Team (pictured left) entered the Division I men’s final round with a 14-stroke cushion over Florida A&M University, and finished at 893, seven strokes better than University of Incarnate Word of San Antonio, Texas. Tennessee State was third at 910, followed by Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M, which tied for fourth at 912.

Anthony G. Stepney (center), coordinator of the FORE DiversiTEE Initiative at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore

The Hornets were led by Canadians Branson Ferrier, the Division I medalist, and Francis Bethiaume.Ferrier posted a 2-under-par 70 that included six birdies and two double bogeys, for a 54-hole total of 10-under-par 206. Berthiaume, a junior from Montreal, closed with a 71 for insurance, while teammates Andrei Collins of Trinidad-Tobago (80) and Jose Rodriguez of Puerto Rico (80) struggled coming in.

 

“It feels great after being here several years and being so close before, with some seconds and thirds, to finally win,” said Alabama State Assistant Head Coach Robert Clark. “As a PGA Professional, this means a lot for our program, for our kids and for our school.

 

“Branson is a very good player. He has aspirations of playing on the PGA Tour one day, and if he continues to work at his golf maturity, I think he will get there.”

 

University of Houston-Victoria sophomore Heather Shake of Pearland, Texas, fired a 67 to finish at 4-under-par 212 to claim her second-consecutive Division I medalist honor. The 20-year-old earned a berth in next week’s Symetra Tour’s Mission Health Wellness Classic at the Country Club of Asheville in North Carolina.

 

“It’s really cool to win here again,” said Shake. “Before I came here, I was struggling with striking the ball but something just clicked, and I finally got to throwing darts. I had problems putting yesterday, but thankfully, I got it back. I love this golf course; it sets up perfect for my game.”

 

Alabama State’s national champions traveled 10½ hours by bus from the campus in Montgomery, Alabama, to PGA Golf Club. “I had a birthday on the way down,” joked Clark. “Well, it felt like a birthday, because it was a long ride. Our expectations were high this week after having basically the same group last year.”

 

Cal State Dominguez Hills (Division II) and University of Texas at Brownsville (NAIA), the respective 36-hole division leaders, were declared champions when inclement weather forced a suspension of play at 2:51 p.m. Championship officials determined that both divisions would not have been able to complete their final rounds.

 

Cal State Dominguez Hills of Carson, California, had a 610 total, two strokes better than Texas A&M International.

 

The University of Texas at Brownsville had cruised to a 31-stroke lead over University of Houston-Victoria after two rounds, with a 4-under-par 580 total.

 

Tiana Jones, now a freshman in the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s PGA Professional Golf Management University Program, turned in a 72 and 223 total for a second straight Women’s Individual Invitational title. Last year, she was victorious while playing for South Carolina State University.

 

“I want to play on the LPGA Tour, and also want to own my own academy and build my own golf course, and give back to the community,” said Jones. “I want to see more African-Americans in golf.”

Photo: Tiana Jones, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, (right) poses with Wendell Haskins, Senior Director of Diversity, The PGA of America, following her 1st place win in the Women’s Individual Invitational during the final round of the 29th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship, at the PGA Golf Club on Sunday, May 10, 2015 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Cathleen Wong of Florida Gulf Coast University and Grace Chua of the University of Delaware shared runner-up at 225.

 

LeMoyne-Owen College senior Dominique Worthen of Flint, Michigan, captured the Men’s Individual Invitational after a long journey. He lost a 2013 playoff while attending Texas Southern University, then was third last year. He held on Sunday for a 74 and 217 total, defeating Siyan Liu, a Palm BeachAtlantic University freshman from Beijing, China, by two strokes.

 

“It was tough for me today, but I knew if I could hit good drives, I could win,” said Worthen, who had a two-putt par on No. 18. “I borrowed my dad’s driver after the first round, and it feels good to win.”

 

The Championship featured 220 players representing 50 colleges and universities, 12 countries and two U.S. territories.

 

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.

The 54-hole stroke-play Championship consists of four divisions: NCAA Men’s Division I, Men’s Division II, Men’s NAIA and Women’s division teams. In addition, there is an Individual Invitational competition for minority Men & Women contestants. The Individual Invitational is open to students who are listed on the roster of their college golf team or part of The PGA of America’s PGA Golf Management programs and in one of the ethnic origins listed: African-American, Hispanic-American, Native or Alaskan American, Asian or Pacific Island America.

(Photos by Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America)

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

 

1. Hampton–159-174—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

 

2. 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–167-166—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

(April 30, 2015) –“This is a milestone as we welcome UMES as the first collegiate chapter of the EWGA,” says CEO Pam Swensen. “We anticipate this to be the first of many collegiate chapters to come. EWGA excels at creating opportunities for women to use golf personally and professionally. We are delighted to provide our collegiate members with leadership tools to be successful both on and off the course.”

Eight UMES undergraduates became the Chapter’s Charter members.

New members and advisers of UMES’ EWGA chapter, from left are: (front row), Tiana Jones, Tymeia Taylor, Jasmin Cunningham, UMES President Juliette B. Bell, Nia Troutman, Jamila Johnson; (back row) Tadeeja Appleby, Alison Harris, Joe Journey, Kimberly C. Dumpson and Norman Blanco. Membership is open to both genders.

The chapter launch is part of UMES’s ‘Pink on the Green’ initiative to get more women playing golf. On April 30, 2015, UMES will host an all campus event from 11AM – 2PM at its driving range to promote the game of golf to their students, faculty and staff. At noon, a ceremony with EWGA representatives and University dignitaries will culminate with the signing of the first collegiate Chapter Affiliation Agreement.

“UMES is honored to partner with the EWGA in this pioneering effort to form a collegiate chapter on our campus,” University President Juliette B. Bell said. “This is an innovative approach to diversifying the golf industry, which has been our motivation since our golf management program accepted its first students in 2008.”

An early evening gathering for women in the community is also planned. Anyone interested in learning more about the game of golf is invited to the University driving range from 5-7 PM, April 30th. Golf professionals and EWGA leaders from the nearby EWGA Eastern Shore, Maryland Chapter will be present to talk about the many benefits of golf and upcoming learning and playing opportunities around the area.

“I am happy that this has come together,” says Jamila Johnson, PGA PGM Academic Service Coordinator at UMES. ” The girls are very enthusiastic and they are looking forward to being even more involved with other chapters over the summer.”

Photo Above:  UMES President Juliette B. Bell is pictured with EWGA representatives, from left, Sheryl Wilkerson, volunteer president of the EWGA board of directors; Renee Powell, a member, retired pro tour golfer and honorary member of St. Andrew’s Golf Club in Scotland; and Hollis Kerler, EWGA chapter development director.

Also joining in this growth of the game celebration will be Ohio Golf Hall of Famer and former LPGA Tour player, Renee Powell. Powell, a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service Degree from UMES, was awarded EWGA’s 2002 Leadership Award recognizing her outstanding contributions to women’s golf. Named the First Lady of Golf by the PGA in 2003, her history making continues, as she becomes one of the first female members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.

 

For more information about the EWGA and membership, visit ewga.com. For information on starting an EWGA Collegiate Chapter please contact [email protected]