May 12, 2008

Final Stats

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Winston-Salem State University men's golf team closed out the 2008 season with a 10^th-place finish at the Minority Collegiate Golf Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. on Sunday afternoon as WSSU carded a final-round 317 en route to a three-day total of 958. 

 

While the Rams celebrated their 10^th-place finish, fellow MEAC-member Bethune-Cookman University captured both the Division I men's and women's titles.

 

Bethune-Cookman carded a team-total of eight-over-par 872 to defeat Jackson (Miss.) State University by 17-strokes. The University of Texas-Pan American finished in third place overall.

 

Carl Corbin of Bethune-Cookman won the Division I men's individual standings title after carding a final round three-under-par 69. Corbin finished two-strokes ahead of Brett Benson from Jackson (Miss.) State University.

 

Nearly 200 contestants from 47 colleges and universities, representing 14 countries comprised the field for the 2008 PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship as the Rams posted one of their best three-day performances in the history of the men's golf program, a program that was resurrected by WSSU Director of Athletics, Dr. Chico Caldwell, only five short years ago after a 17-year layoff.

 

The Rams were led on Sunday by Lance Holmes and Jerrell Fields who each recorded rounds of 73.  The 73 by Fields capped a three-day performance in which he shot rounds in the 70's on each of the three competition days (78-79-73--230).

 

Joshua Sherell posted a round of 81, Steven Mason recorded a 90 and Kenneth Lathan carded a 94 as the Rams finished Sunday's final-round with a team total of 958.

 

Holmes' three rounds in the 70's earned him a 25^th-place finish in the individual medalist competition.  Jerrell Fields closed out the championship with a finish that tied him for 31^st overall.

 

For additional information on WSSU men's golf, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at WSSURams.com.

 

WSSU Individual Results:

Golfer                         Rd.1    Rd.2    Rd.3    Total

Kenneth Lathan           76        97        94        267

Joshua Sherrell            77        78        81        236

Lance Holmes              78        79        73        230

Jerrell Fields                81        78        73        233

Steven Mason              82        93        90        265

Total                            312      329      317      958

 

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.