Morehouse, Benedict & Kentucky State fair well at 22nd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Morehouse College, Benedict College & Kentucky State University all faired well at the 22nd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Morehouse led the charge for the SIAC finishing in fourth place with a team score of 929 over the three day event. Benedict finished in 6th and Kentucky State in 7th in the Division II section. The 22nd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship featured nearly 200 contestants from 47 colleges and universities, representing 14 countries.
Morehouse was led by Edward Hill and Steven Wooten who both shot a 14 over par 230 over the three day event, tying them for 11th place. Benedict’s Galen Aldrich and Kentucky State’s Nick Morrow both shot a 230 also tying them for 11th amongst the Division II section. Morehouse, Benedict & Kentucky State made history earlier this spring, participating in the resurgent SIAC Golf Championship. Philip Allen (SIAC Tournament MVP) shot a 238 finishing in 22nd place in the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship.
Benedict’s final score was a 182 over par 1046. Kentucky State shot a 184 over par 1048.
About the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship
The PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship originated from a meeting in November 1986 following the Jackson State University Golf Tournament. The late Dr. Herschel Cochrane, Dr. Joe D. Saunders of the National Negro Golf Association, Jackson State University Golf Coach Eddie Payton, Rose Harper-Elder of the Sports Management Institute and William (Bill) Dickey founder of the Bill Dickey Scholarship Association and the 1999 PGA Distinguished Service Award winner, are credited as the founders of this Championship.
The goal was to elevate the game of golf in minority colleges and universities by giving them a chance to compete in a championship because of being denied opportunities to compete in NCAA Collegiate Golf events. The first Championship was conducted in the spring of 1987 at Highland Park Golf Course in Cleveland, Ohio. Since 1998, The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., has been host to the Championship.
In 2006, The PGA of America was granted complete ownership and management of the championship by the National Minority Collegiate Golf Scholarship Fund.
In 1990, a Career Fair was conducted for the first time in conjunction with the Championship to provide corporate sponsors the opportunity to interview and recruit outstanding college students for future employment. As a result, the Career Fair has developed into an invaluable resource to assist students in gaining internships and full-time positions within the golf industry.
Also, State Farm Insurance has extended its sponsorship to support the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship through 2010. The State Farm sponsorship provides funding of a one-hour Championship highlight program on Golf Channel. Students from participating schools in the 2008 Championship can apply to receive scholarship awards from State Farm Insurance for their academic excellence at their respective institutions.
About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America’s mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $195 billion golf industry.
By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere.
The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf. For more information please visit www.pga.com
Contributed By Randy Stutzman, PGA.com Contributor- PGA.com
Team Scores:
| DIVISION II MEN | |
| Team/Players | Score |
| 1. Fayetteville State University | 287-281-305–873 |
| 1. Ian Milne | 68-69-72–209 |
| 2. Joel Lynn | 69-68-74–211 |
| T15. Jeremy Ringled | 76-71-84–231 |
| 18. Kevin Lyles | 74-77-82–233 |
| WD Derek Scott | WD-73-77 |
| Team/Players | Score |
| 2. Lincoln University | 290-293-299–882 |
| 4. Kortland Ware | 70-72-77–219 |
| T5. Dan Frost | 73-73-75–221 |
| T5. Justin Watkins | 72-77-72–221 |
| T8. Aaron Murphy | 75-71-79–225 |
| T15. Rodolfo Gamino | 77-79-75–231 |
| Team/Players | Score |
| 3. Virginia State University | 300-290-313–903 |
| 3. Jerel Whiting | 70-69-79–218 |
| 10. Kalani Britos | 73-75-81–229 |
| 19. Greg Hunt | 86-73-75–234 |
| 21. Brian Wood | 77-82-78–237 |
| T23. Dustin Kelley | 80-73-87–240 |
| Team/Players | Score |
| 4. Morehouse College | 307-304-318–929 |
| T11. Edward Hill | 75-74-81–230 |
| T11. Steven Wooten | 76-79-75–230 |
| 20. Esquire Ward | 78-76-82–236 |
| 22. Philip Allen | 78-75-85–238 |
| 25. Thaddaeus Hill | 81-80-80–241 |
| Team/Players | Score |
| 5. St. Augustine’s College | 329-311-321–961 |
| 7. Aaron Oliver | 74-71-78–223 |
| T23. Larry Whiteside | 85-81-74–240 |
| 26. Corey Landrum-Smith | 82-84-82–248 |
| 27. Julius Wells | 88-75-87–250 |
| Team/Players | Score |
| 6. Benedict College | 344-340-362–1046 |
| T11. Galen Aldrich | 78-74-78–230 |
| T15. Olajuwon Ajanaku | 74-77-80–231 |
| 29. Vernon Harris | 88-87-100–275 |
| 37. Michael Taylor | 104-102-104–310 |
| Team/Players | Score |
| 7. Kentucky State University | 342-357-349–1048 |
| T11. Nick Morrow | 75-75-80–230 |
| 28. James Andersen | 78-85-90–253 |
| 30. Kendrick Lawson | 92-100-89–281 |
| 33. Patrick Lawrence | 97-99-90–286 |
| 34. Jared Perkins | 101-98-93–292 |
| Team/Players | Score |
| 8. Johnson C. Smith University | 343-354-381–1078 |
| T8. Enobong Udo | 74-74-77–225 |
| 31. Andre Kelley | 88-93-103–284 |
| 32. Herbert L. Collins | 91-94-100–285 |
| 35. Jamaal A. Brown | 90-99-106–295 |
| 36. Julien Polk | 104-93-101–298 |