May 9, 2009
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Winston-Salem State University men’s golf team turned in a team total of 320 on Friday, led by Jerell Fields’three-over-par round of 75, to place eighth in the Division I Men’s standings following first round action at the 23rd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship.
Under pristine conditions, Armen Kirakossian from the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, fired a bogey-free five-under-par 67 to grab the lead after the first round in the Division I men's individual standings at the 23rd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship.
The junior from Portland, Ore., carded three birdies and an eagle, which came at the par-5 13th hole.
"I really drove the ball well today, which was key. But I know I still left a lot out there," said Kirakossian, who hit 16 greens in regulation. "I did stay patient and made the short putts that were in front of me."
Kirakossian, who was a member of the Texas-Pan American team that won the division title in 2007, knows it will not be an easy task to repeat that performance.
"We have been struggling as a team this year," said Kirakossian. "We are looking to turn our games around and come out with a victory on Sunday. It should be a great weekend."
Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla., has the overall lead in the Division I men's team standings by one-stroke over Tennessee State University. The University of Texas-Pan American sits four-strokes off the pace.
The Rams find themselves in eighth place overall as Fields’ 75 led WSSU. Kenneth Lathan carded a round of 78 and Devin Cherry, Michael Asbury and Steven Mason each turned in rounds in the 80’s for the Rams.
In Division II, Fayetteville State University in N.C., leads Lincoln University of Jefferson City, Mo., by 18-strokes after firing a first round 8-under-par 280. The Broncos are seeking their fourth consecutive title.
Joel Lynn, a junior from Sanford, N.C., led the Broncos through 18-holes after shooting a 5-under-par 67.
"I hit the ball great and very close all today and I am happy with my round even though I really did not make any putts," said Lynn, who is competing in his third Championship. "As a team we are trying to score as low as we can. We have had a rough few weeks but we are all feeling great and looking to win our fourth in a row."
Edward Waters College, the only team competing in the NAIA division, fired an opening round 324. They were led by Alex Moscinski of Jacksonville, Fla., who carded an opening round 76.
In the women's division, the University of Texas-Pan-American in Edinburg carded an opening round 307, and hold an eight-stroke lead over Bethune-Cookman University, the 3-time defending champion in the division.
Majo Camey from the University of Texas-Pan American recorded the low-round for the women's division with a 71. She leads teammate Haley Hocott by three-strokes.
"I really want to help my team win, that is the main goal," said Camey, a freshman. "We were able to win our conference so we wanted to cap off this year with a win at this tournament."
Camey knows it will not be easy to defeat the defending champions.
"We know that they are good, we compete against them hard every year," said Camey. "We just have to make sure to trust each other and play with a great deal of confidence on every hole we play."
Etivise Latu from California State University, Monterey Bay, holds a 2-shot lead over defending champion Sara Young of Florida State University in the independent women's division after carding an opening round 76.
"I had a great time out there on the course and I stayed consistent off the tee," said Latu, a senior from East Palo Alto, Calif. "I am very excited to try and win this Championship but have to just think about my round tomorrow and just really stay in the present."
Young, who is competing in her final Championship, is excited to defend her title but knows she must play better over the weekend.
"I played really well on the front, but on the back the putts kept lipping out and I went on a bogey run," said Young. "I went on a little bogey run on the back and I have to change that tomorrow."
In the independent men's division, Dustin Thompson from the University of North Carolina, holds the 18-hole lead after an opening round 72. He leads Amit Odaiyar of Florida Atlantic University and Christian Heavens of Georgetown College by one stroke.
Nearly 150 contestants from more than 30 colleges and universities have comprised the field for the 2008 PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship.
The Rams will return to action on Saturday morning as they complete second round play from the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
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.
Mens Division I Gross Scores for Round 1 - May 8, 2009
Rank Team Score
1 Bethune-Cookman 287
Dan Venema 70
Willie Mack III 73
Andrew Heesom 70
Sean Edey 77
Juan Ronderos 74
2 Tennesse State 288
Chris Seibel 70
Richard Gill 69
Dorian Vauls 79
Ryan Smith 70
Chris McKay 84
3 Texas-Pan American 291
Armen Kirakossian 67
Shane Pearce 71
A.J. Gonzalez 77
High Wongchindawest 78
Orlando Moreno 76
4 Savannah State 294
Corey Brown 73
Tripp Walker 73
Jamie Montgomery 80
Riley Baxter 75
Ricky Williams 73
5 North Carolina Central 296
Josue Garza 74
Chris Winters 70
Juan Pablo Sanchez 74
Braden Cox 78
Ronald Royster 82
T6 South Carolina State 301
Roberto Cacho 68
Hector Manuel Arroyav 78
Alejandro Bernardini 76
Robert Biggers 79
Bryon Bush 85
T6 Florida A&M 301
James Petty 70
Wesley Yates 80
Shephard Archie III 74
Gallop Franklin 80
Elijah Jackson 77
8 Winston-Salem State 320
Jerell Fields 75
Devin Cherry 83
Steven Mason 86
Kenneth Lathan 78
Michael Asbury 84
9 Hampton 321
Arturo Saro 80
Sidney Fields 78
Javier Lopez 85
Geoffrey Napper 81
Jason Sherer 82
10 Alabama A&M 323
Andrew Chase Kennedy 73
Tyler Kirby 94
Cody Calvert 76
William Miller III 87
Matthew Lay 87
11 Alabama State 327
Kyle Demeester 77
John Montgomery 81
Brendan Prouse 85
Greg Keafer 84
Mens Division II
Rank Team Score
1 Fayetteville State 280
Joel Chip Lynn 67
Kevin Lyles 71
Derek Scott 74
Jeremy Ringled 68
William McClure 85
2 Lincoln 298
Aaron Murphy 73
Justin Watkins 75
Kortland Ware 76
Josh Roller 74
Anisul Huq 77
3 Morehouse 302
Phillip Allen 77
Olajuwon Ajanaku 74
Bryan McElderry 76
Thaddaeus Hill 75
Darian Bouie 83
4 Virginia State 305
Greg Hunt 72
Kalani Britos 81
Dustin Kelley 74
Brian Wood 78
Tommie Sides 81
5 Benedict 324
Galen Aldrich 77
Shane Phillips 82
Calvin Mason 78
Kevin Burroughs 87
Devereaux Burnett 113
6 Paine 348
Jerry Rapp 85
Chauncey Davis 88
Brad Freeman 88
Kyle Radford 87
Justin Hines 100
Mens NAIA
Rank Team Score
1 Edward Waters 324
Cobie Lunsford 79
Kipp Jones 79
Alex Moscinski 76
Charlo Riney 90
Womens
Rank Team Score
1 Texas Pan American 307
Ale Camey 81
Majo Camey 71
Haley Hocott 74
Sarah Kothny 86
Bronwyn Sandberg 81
2 Bethune-Cookman 315
Fern Grimshaw 78
Emma Tayler 76
Kimberly Wong 81
Hannah Bews 80
Maria Garrido 81
3 Hampton 345
Jessi Mitchell 100
Dionne West 87
Sydnee Mack 85
Iman Ellis 82
Haley Hill 91
Men's Individual
Rank Name School Out-In--Total
1 Dustin Thompson, North Carolina 34-38--72
2 Amit Odaiyar, Florida Atlantic 37-36--73
3 Christian Heavens, Georgetown 36-37--73
4 Josh Bain, Liberty 36-40--76
5 Chris Nieto, New Mexico State 38-39--77
6 Steven Young, Georgetown 38-40--78
T7 Frankie Martinez, New Mexico State 40-40--80
Jonathan Coleman, Grambling State 42-38--80
Ryan Cancino, New Mexico State 39-41--80
T10 Allen Kelley, New Mexico State 41-40--81
Bryeson Lance, East Central 40-41--81
Matthew French, Incarnate Word 41-40--81
13 William Foust, New Mexico State 43-39--82
14 Minsoo Soh, Maryland Eastern Shore 39-44--83
15 Martin Jimenez, Incarnate Word 42-42--84
16 Jeremy Williams ,Prairie View A&M 42-43--85
17 Josh Salmon, New Mexico State 43-43--86
T18 Jordan Pacheco, New Mexico State 44-44--88
Justin Ford, Clemson 46-42--88
20 Anthony Long, Maryland Eastern Shore 50-44--94
21 Donald McKinnon, Maryland Eastern Shore 53-53--106
T22 Cleveland Andrews, Paine College 51-61--112
Deandre Stinson, Winston Salem State 53-59--112
Women's Individual
Ranks Name School Out-In--Total
1 Etivise Latu, California State Monterey Bay 39-37--76
2 Sara Young ,Florida State 36-42--78
3 Rebecca DeLeon, Texas-Pan American 38-42--80
4 Mackenzie Mack, Indiana State 39-42--81
T5 Natalie Guidry, California Riverside 38-45--83
Peni Sanjoto, Prairie View A&M 41-42--83
Raine Lounis, Drury 39-44--83
Sasha Kiger, Incarnate Word 41-43--84
9 Aziza Glass, Prairie View A&M 41-44--85
T10 Danielle Robinson, Alabama State University 40-46--86
Deztany Jackson, Old Dominion 45-41--86
12 Maria Urquiola, Bethune-Cookman 45-45--90
13 Vonnetta Epps, Savannah State 45-47--92
14 Sarita Sharp, Benedict 45-50--95
15 Virginia Gonzalez, Ohio Valley 50-48--98
16 Ericka Ware, Alabama State University 50-52--102
17 D'Andrielle Robinson, Alabama State University 56-53--109
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