TSU, FSU claim Minority Golf titles

By Randy Stutzman
PGA.com

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Tennessee State made a furious comeback in the final round to capture the Division I men's title and the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg cruised to victory to claim the women's team division crown at the 23rd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship.

Tennessee State made up ten-strokes on the final day, with three of their five players firing under-par rounds. Chris Seibel fired a final round 1-under par 71, birdied the 17th hole and saved par on No. 18 to seal the victory. Ryan Smith shot a final round 69 and had the low overall score for TSU with a three-round total of 212 (70-73-69).

The Tigers won the division by one-stroke (860-861) over defending champion Bethune-Cookman. The two HBCUs were the only teams to finish under par (TSU -4, BCU -3). The University of Texas-Pan American finished in third place overall (879).

"We had a feeling it would be close and could feel the tension building the whole day," said Seibel, a junior. "Our team is young and has been struggling all year but we came out and played well and can not wait to come back next year."

TSU head Coach Chip Taylor, a PGA Professional, knew his team would have to be aggressive all day.

"We had a rough start, really," said Taylor, who is in his third year with the program. "I knew going into the final round there was going to be some pressure but I told them go out and play their game. They finished very strong."

Taylor understood how close the competition was heading into the final few holes.

"I knew our team was either one ahead or tied, and we just happened to be one ahead," said Taylor. "I do not see why our team, which is so young, can not come out again and do this again next year."

Roberto Cacho of South Carolina State, a freshman playing in his first Minority Championship, won the Division I men's individual standings title with a 13-under par 203 score. Cacho, from Morelos, Mexico carded a final round even-par 72 after earlier under-par rounds of 68 and 63. Cacho, who has been the medalist in several tournaments SCSU has played in this year, was one stroke better than Armen Kirakosian (204) of Texas Pan American. Shane Pearce of UTPA was third at 206. Cacho is the first SC State player to win medalist honors in the tournament since 1991 (Martin Roache, who won in 1990 and 1991).

In the women's division, the University of Texas-Pan-American (922) won for the first time since 2005, defeating Bethune-Cookman, a double runner-up (944) by 22-strokes. Hampton finished in third place overall (1027).

Majo Camey from the University of Texas-Pan American claimed the women's individual medalist honors with a three-day-total of 225.

Fayetteville State, fresh off earning a berth in the NCAA Div. II second round, took home its fourth consecutive Division II title with a three-day total of 6-under-par 858. Lincoln (Mo.), finished in second place, 34-strokes behind. Virginia State finished in third place overall.

Joel Lynn, from Sanford, N.C., led the Broncos with a 7-under-par 209 total.

Head Coach Raymond McDougal was very proud of how his team fared. "This is probably the best group we have ever had at this university," said McDougal. "We had a full schedule of tournaments leading up to this event but my players wanted to make it here to compete and win."

Edward Waters, the only team competing in the NAIA division, cruised to the 2009 title after carding a final round 329. The Tigers were led by Kipp Jones who recorded a three-day total of 236.

Sara Young of Florida State captured the women's independent division with a final-round 76, defeating first-round leader Etivise Latu from California State University, Monterey Bay.

"I would recommend this Championship to anyone who gets invited," said Young, who was competing in her third and final Championship. "It has given me confidence throughout my college career. They treat us like celebrities and it was a really positive experience."

In the Independent men's division, Dustin Thompson from the University of North Carolina, carded a final round 71 to win the men's independent division. Christian Heavens of Georgetown College finished in second place, two-strokes behind.

Nearly 150 contestants from 30 colleges and universities comprised the field for the 2009 PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship.

The debut broadcast of the 2009 highlight show on Golf Channel will air on Thursday, July 9 at 7:30 pm ET. Additional airing times will be released at a later date.

DIV. I FINAL SCORES 1 Tennesse State (-4) 288-290-282---860 Chris McKay 84-70-83--237 Chris Seibel 70-72-71--213 Dorian Vauls 79-77-69--225 Richard Gill 69-75-73--217 Ryan Smith 70-73-69--212 2 Bethune-Cookman (-3) 287-281-293---861 Andrew Heesom 70-69-71--210 Dan Venema 70-77-73--220 Juan Ronderos 74-72-81--227 Sean Edey 77-74-74--225 Willie Mack III 73-66-75--214 4 Florida A&M (+25) 301-298-290---889 Elijah Jackson 77-77-79--233 Gallop Franklin 80-81-87--248 James Petty 70-71-70--211 Shephard Archie III 74-75-67--216 Wesley Yates 80-75-74--229 T5 South Carolina State (+28) 301-293-298---892 Alejandro Bernardini 76-80-74--230 Bryon Bush 85-99-85--269 Hector Manuel Arroyave 78-71-73--222 Robert Biggers 79-79-79--237 Roberto Cacho 68-63-72--203 T5 North Carolina Central 296-294-302---892 Braden Cox 78-74-76--228 Chris Winters 70-69-72--211 Josue Garza 74-75-77--226 Juan Pablo Sanchez 74-76-77--227 Ronald Royster 82-86-83--251 7 Savannah State (+43) 294-298-315---907 Corey Brown 73-72-79--224 Jamie Montgomery 80-78-81--239 Ricky Williams 73-84-86--243 Riley Baxter 75-79-74--228 Tripp Walker 73-69-81--223 8 Alabama State (+85) 327-302-320---949 Brendan Prouse 85-80-83--248 Greg Keafer 84-81-91--256 John Montgomery 81-72-74--227 Kyle Demeester 77-69-72--218 9 Alabama A&M (+92) 323-320-313---956 Andrew Chase Kennedy 73-75-74--222 A.J. Gonzalez 77-82-77--236 Cody Calvert 76-78-78--232 Matthew Lay 87-93-84--264 Tyler Kirby 94-86-80--260 William Miller III 87-81-81--249 10 Hampton (+102) 321-327-318---966 Arturo Saro 80-85-86--251 Geoffrey Napper 81-78-79--238 Jason Sherer 82-85-83--250 Javier Lopez 85-79-81--245 Sidney Fields 78-90-75--243 11 Winston-Salem State 320-319-329---968 Devin Cherry 83-75-87--245 Jerell Fields 75-81-78--234 Kenneth Lathan 78-82-78--238 Michael Asbury 84-81-92--257 teven Mason 86-82-86--254

DIV. II FINAL SCORES 1 Fayetteville State (-6) 280-283-295---858 Derek Scott 74-69-73--216 Jeremy Ringled 68-75-73--216 Joel Chip Lynn 67-67-75--209 Kevin Lyles 71-72-74--217 William McClure 85-76-86--247 2 Lincoln (+28) 298-292-302---892 Aaron Murphy 73-71-77--221 Anisul Huq 77-76-79--232 Josh Roller 74-75-78--227 Justin Watkins 75-74-72--221 Kortland Ware 76-72-75--223 3 Virginia State (+31) 305-298-292---895 Brian Wood 78-76-74--228 Dustin Kelley 74-77-70--221 Greg Hunt 72-69-74--215 Kalani Britos 81-76-74--231 Tommie Sides 81-77-76--234 4 Morehouse (+41) 302-289-314---905 Bryan McElderry 76-70-76--222 Darian Bouie 83-90-101--274 Olajuwon Ajanaku 74-71-80--225 Phillip Allen 77-73-78--228 Thaddaeus Hill 75-75-80--230 5 Benedict (+85) 324-311-314---949 Calvin Mason 78-80-81--239 Devereaux Burnett 113-116-105--334 Galen Aldrich 77-72-75--224 Kevin Burroughs 87-82-83--252 Shane Phillips 82-77-75--234 6 Paine (+155) 348-336-335---1019 Brad Freeman 88-85-80--253 Chauncey Davis 88-80-79--247 Jerry Rapp 85-75-89--249 Justin Hines 100-96-97--293 Kyle Radford 87-162-87--336

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