Former JSU's Shasta Averyhardt ties for 22nd at Qualifying School to earn conditional status on LPGA Tour in 2011

Follow Averyhardt career at http://www.shastagolf.us

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — Two measly strokes in 90 holes were all that kept Flint's Shasta Averyhardt from having full playing privileges on the LPGA Tour next season.

Averyhardt shot 7-over-par 77 Sunday in the final round of Qualifying School on LPGA International's Champions course to fall from a tie for eighth into a tie for 22nd. Averyhardt finished at 4-over-par 364. She would have tied for 20th with a score of 362.

The top 20 players are fully exempt next season while those in Averyhardt's category are exempt into the Monday qualifying tournaments and ...

Bramlett not the only African-American to earn Tour Card for 2011

On Sunday 24-year-old Shasta Averyhardt became the only African-American player to earn status on the LPGA Tour. Averyhardt will be just the fourth African-American woman in the 60 year history of the LPGA Tour to play as a member.

The rookie professional out of Flint, Mich., was on pace to finish inside the fully-exempt top-20 after a round of 67 on Saturday tied her for eighth. Averyhardt struggled through Sunday’s final round conditions but her 79 was good enough to keep her inside the top-30 (T22) and earn her LPGA Tour card through the Priority List Category 16.

Flint's Shasta Averyhardt trying to see bright side after making history at LPGA Tour Q-School

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — Flint's Shasta Averyhardt made LPGA Tour history Sunday despite failing to earn full playing privileges for the 2011 season.

Averyhardt, 24, shot 7-over-par 79 in the fifth and final round of Qualifying School at LPGA International to fall from a tie for eighth into a tie for 22nd with a total of 4-over 364.
The top 20 finishers are fully exempt for 2011 and Averyhardt missed a playoff for the 20th and final spot by two shots.

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RELATED LINK: http://www.shastagolf.us/

2nd Annual Paine College Golf Tournament Builds on Success

Last year's inaugural Paine College Golf Tournament was such a rousing success -- the event raised nearly $25,000 for the Lions' golf program -- that it seemed it would be hard to top in 2010.

It appears that won't be a problem. The second annual tournament, set for Aug. 31, 2010, at Jones Creek Golf Club, Evans, Georgia, already has another full field of 50 three-man teams, and sponsorship money is up from this time last year. The field filled up last week. The cost was $300 per three-man team, or $100 for an individual. "We've got a standby list again," said Kenny Larry, who is back as the chairman of the tournament committee.

Sponsorships are still being accepted. Anyone interested in sponsorships or getting on the waiting list should contact Paine College at (706) 821-8233. With sponsorship money ahead of last year's pace, thanks in part to a $3,500 donation from one area foundation, the tournament is setting a goal of $50,000 raised for the golf program.

Last year's money went for golf equipment, range finders, scholarships, assisting in recruiting and to cover expenses to send the team to the PGA Minority Golf Championships.

The Paine College Golf Tournament started in response to the fact the Paine team qualified for the minority tournament in 2008, but the trip was canceled, with the school citing lack of funds. In the wake of an outpouring of public support after word got out about the problem, Frances Wimberly and other Paine officials thought a benefit tournament might help out. It certainly has. "The tournament is doing very, very well," Larry said.

The tournament is using the same format as last year: a three-man captain's choice. Augusta native and Champions Tour winner Jim Dent will return as honorary chairman and play.

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Message From Honorary Chair Jim Dent

I am pleased to serve as Honorary Chair for the 2nd Annual Paine College Golf Tournament. It is with great pride that I express to you the success of the Inaugural Paine College Golf Tournament held in August of 2009. The overwhelming support from last year’s tournament makes me even more excited to be a part of the 2nd Annual Paine College Golf Tournament, which will be held on August 30, 2010 at Jones Creek Golf Club in Evans, Georgia.

As a supporter of Paine College I am familiar with its mission, stand behind its vision and live by the College’s core values. My interaction with the tournament committee and the Paine Men’s Golf Team has further strengthened my love for this cause. All of the proceeds raised at the Golf Tournament are donated to the College to provide scholarships and program support.

The Paine Men’s Golf Team is on the rise. The team recently placed 2nd in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Tournament. Your support helps encourage the team to strive for excellence on and off the course.

We appreciate your support and look forward to hearing from you soon. I look forward to seeing you on the course.

Sincerely,

Jim Dent
Honorary Chair

Unstoppable Bethune-Cookman takes both men's and women's titles

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman University of Daytona, Fla. captured both the Division I men's and women's titles Sunday at the 22nd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

In the men's division, Bethune-Cookman carded a team-total of 8-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 3-under-par 69. Corbin finished two strokes ahead of Brett Benson of Jackson State.

In the women's division, Bethune-Cookman won for the third consecutive year after carding a team-total of 918 to defeat the University of Texas-Pan-American by 16 strokes. Becky Dowell of Bethune-Cookman claimed the women's individual medalist honors with a three-day-total of 225. She edged Mariale Camey of Texas-Pan American by one stroke.

"I am very satisfied with the overall performance of my team at this Championship," said Head Coach Dr. Gary Freeman. "I have super group of kids that I am able to coach and it was a privilege to watch them play out here this week."

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FAMU, Savannah State share lead in PGA Minority Collegiate Championship

Savannah State and Florida A&M share the overall lead in the Division I men's team standings with a 5-over-par 293, and hold a 1-shot lead over Jackson State.

In Division II, Fayetteville State in North Carolina leads Lincoln University of Jefferson City, Mo., by three-strokes after firing a first-round 1-under 287.

In the women's division, Bethune-Cookman, winner of the 2006 and 2007 Championship, carded a first-round team total of 309 to grab a one-stroke lead over Texas-Pan-American in Edinburg.

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ROUND 1 SCORES - DIVISION I MEN

Team/Players Score
T1. Savannah State University 293
T8. Riley Baxter 37-36--73
T8. Jamie Montgomery 36-37--73
T8. Corey Brown 40-33--73
T14. Spencer Slade 37- 37--74
T22. Zac Gelow 37-38--75

Team/Players Score
T1. Florida A&M University 293
T3. Doug Smith 33-39--72
T8. Wesley Yates 38-35--73
T14. James Petty 37-37--74
T14. Stanley Wilson 35-39--74
T62. Gallop Franklin 46-43--89

Team/Players Score
3. Jackson State University 294
1. Michael Bailey 32-35--67
T3. Brett Benson 36-36--72
T14. Albert Kilgore III 36-38--74
T42. Reggie Newton 41-40--81
T55. James Cox, Jr. 40-46--86

Team/Players Score
4. Bethune-Cookman College 298
T3. Carl Corbin 38-34--72
T14. Daniel Venema 37-37--74
T14. Sean Edey 36-38--74
T31. Willie Mack 39-39--78
T62. Troy Coker 45-44--89

Team/Players Score
5. Texas-Pan American 299
2. Shane Pearce 35-36--71
T3. Armen Kirakossian 36-36--72
T24. Kyle Tudi 38-38--76
T38. A.J. Gonzalez 41-39--80
T51. Jeff Hensley 46-38--84

Team/Players Score
6. South Carolina State 302
T8. Aaron Robinson 37-36--73
T14. Matthew Gilliard 37-37--74
T28. Cory Jozefiak 40-37--77
T31. Robert A. Biggers 40-38--78
T38. Hector Arroyave 38-42--80

Team/Players Score
7. Texas Southern University 307
T3. Jacob Scriven 38-34--72
T8. Devaughn Robinson 37-36--73
T38. Corey Woodard 37-43--80
T45. Riccardo Davis 41-41--82
61. Jason Monroe 43-45--88

Team/Players Score
8. Winston-Salem State University 312
24. Kenneth Lathan 37-39--76
T28. Joshua Sherrill 36-41--77
T31. Lance Holmes 38-40--78
T42. Jerell Fields 42-39--81
T45. Steven Mason 43-39--82

Team/Players Score
9. Alabama State University 314
T14. Kyle Demester 38-36--74
T22. Todd Hutcheson 39-36--75
T31. Devin Crenshaw 36-42--78
T57. Brendan Prouse 40-47--87

Team/Players Score
10. Hampton University 321
T24. Christopher Frazier 40-36--76
T28. Justin Martin 35-42--77
T42. Jared Williams 41-40--81
T57. Jason Sherer 42-45--87
T57. Sidney Fields 42-45--87

Team/Players Score
11. Alabama A & M 322
T24. Tyler Kirby 37-39--76
T36. Trey Miller 38-41--79
T45. Larry Benson, Jr. 40-42--82
T53. Cody Calvert 43-42--85
T57. Ryan Randolph 42-45--87

Team/Players Score
12. Grambling State University 325
T31. Devon Raymond 40-38--78
T38. Jonathan Coleman 40-40--80
T45. Dean Weatherly 40-42--82
T53. Brandon Bradley 40-45--85

Team/Players Score
13. Southern University 328
T36. Suhail Vally 40-39--79
T45. Edgar Evans 37-45--82
50. Ervin Nixon 41-42--83
T51. Joshua Martin 45-39--84
T55. Gregory Alex Scott 47-39--86