Basketball & Golfing high school stars sign with Prairie View A&M

Golfer Josh Mitchell with parents
Jeff and Stephanie Anderson

Tomball's Josh Mitchell lands on Prairie View A&M fairway

Houston, TX - Prairie View A&M University sent Tomball senior Josh Mitchell a timely birthday present and graduation gift in the mail. A few days before turning 18 and little more than two weeks prior to accepting his diploma, Mitchell received a scholarship offer to play golf for the Panthers. Sealing his college future only enhanced a time of celebration.

“I’ve been talking to the coach for about two months,” said Mitchell, adding the scholarship will cover tuition. “We’d been talking about getting a letter of intent together. I finally got it last week and decided to sign it on my birthday (May 23). I’m very proud of my accomplishment. A lot of people didn’t think I could do it in such a short time.”

Mitchell said he got a late start on the recruiting process and did not join the Cougars until January after recovering from a broken hand. Injuries continued to provide setbacks as the senior played the District 13-5A tournament with foot trouble. “I played the district tournament with a broken toe,” Mitchell said. “I couldn’t finish my swing. It wasn’t a very good day.”

Sierra Vista High School's Jackson Joins Prairie View A&M University 

Basketball Point Guard Jeanette Jackson
Sierra Vista High School
Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, NV - After four years of being on girls’ varsity basketball, senior Jeanette Jackson accomplished her dream. Jackson signed a contract to attend Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University in Texas for the 2011-2012 year over her other offers from Northern Arizona University and Texas-Pan American University.

"They love my personality and the way I play basketball," said Jackson. "Plus, they are in need of a new point guard."

Her contract includes a full ride scholarship that covers: room and board, meals, books, instates intuition, and all her basketball finances. "I feel like there was a lot of weight lifted off my chest, because all my hard work paid off," stated Jackson. Jackson will be majoring in business management and wishes to reach her potential in basketball.

"I want to become the best of what I strive to do, hopefully I will reach my goals at PVAMU," said Jackson. Not only is Jackson proud of herself but so is her family and her coaches Lindsey Whalen and Jennifer Brown. Right now Jackson feels everything is working out just fine.

"Now I am stress-free and can enjoy the days I have left in town," said Jackson.




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Jackson State University: "Talent Has No Color"

It was a frustrating afternoon for Jackson State golfer Tim O'Neal. He was having one of his best days striking the ball from tee to green. Just one thing was missing.

"I couldn't putt it in the ocean," the 37-year-old former PGA and Nationwide Tour golfer says of his frustrating performance at a tournament at SMU roughly 15 year walked over to Coach Payton and said, `Coach I cannot make a putt.' He thought a moment the offered: `Hit it closer to the pin.'"

The instance illustrates Eddie Payton's practical blend of coaching skill, task mastering and sense of humor. Since 1986, the former NFL punt and kick returner has been forging men's and women's championship golf teams at Jackson State University, the Historically Black College in Jackson, Miss.



Outside the Lines: Eddie Payton

His younger brother, Walter, was perhaps the greatest running back ever, but Eddie Payton has devoted his life to a sport in which the only thing that gets hit is a dimpled ball.

For the past quarter century, Payton has been the head golf coach at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., where he has led the historically black school to 24 conference titles in 25 years. He's the Eddie Robinson of college golf.

Yet Payton says he feels like a failure. Every time he turns on the television, he sees only one African-American representative on the PGA Tour.

["I've been coaching 25 years," he says, "and I have not turned out one."

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Beau Pré hosts Alcorn golf tournament

NATCHEZ, MS — Beau Pré Country Club has seen its fair share of golf tournaments over the years, but this week marked the first time it hosted a college tournament.

The Alcorn State River City Invitational took place at Beau Pré Monday and Tuesday, with six teams participating: Alcorn State, Texas Southern, Prairie View A&M, Alabama A&M, Mississippi Valley State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The Braves men finished fourth, shooting 805 as a team. Alabama A&M placed first with a score of 613, followed by Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 643 and Prairie View A&M with 673.

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Alabama State golfers compete in MCC Invitational for first time

ASU Hornets golf coach, Dr. Gary Grandison.

The well-wishers were all around Alabama State golf coach Gary Grandison at Montgomery Country Club on Friday afternoon. "Glad to have you here," said one elderly gentleman, a longtime member. For the first time in the 92-year history of the MCC Invitational, Alabama State golfers competed in the tournament after a formal invitation from the club. "It shows progress," said an obviously pleased Grandison. Except in this case, Dr. Grandison was not talking about race relations in Montgomery. He was referring to the advancements made by his golf program.

"This is a quality tournament, and the exposure and experience we're getting is important to the growth and progress of our program," said Grandison, who is getting ready to start his fourth year as the head coach of the men's and women's golf teams at ASU.

College players from Alabama, Auburn, Troy, Huntingdon, Central Alabama, UAB -- and this year ASU -- compete in the MCC, but it is not a typical college tournament. Two-man teams from each school compete for the Dr. Hamp Greene III Collegiate Cup championship, but there are no overall team scores.

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Job turns to hobby for Texas College Carson‎

Ricky Carson, a former teammate of Jerry Rice at Mississippi Valley State, is now the head football coach and athletic director of NAIA Texas College.

NATCHEZ, MS — When Alcorn State University hired Rickey Carson as its first ever golf coach, there was one teeny-weeny problem. Carson had never played golf. When The Dart landed at Duncan Park Golf Course Friday afternoon, Carson was practicing his swing while wife Victoria and daughter Courtney looked on. “I had to find out about the rules. What’s a par? What’s a birdie? I didn’t even know what that was,” Carson said.

But Carson is well versed in the game now. But Carson is well versed in the game now. An assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for the ASU football team from 1998 to 2000, Carson studied the rules of golf at the library, and eventually applied his newfound knowledge at Duncan Park.

“I did bad my first time out. I tore up the golf course real bad,” Carson said. “I’m sure everyone was glad when I left that day.” Carson didn’t let his less than stellar debut deter him from the game. He continued to practice, and even gained pointers from his team, which finished sixth overall in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

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Texas-Pan American Leads Defending Champions Tennessee State by Three after 36 Holes

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- After witnessing a tragic flood that just missed engulfing its Nashville campus and having the team charter bus break down, the prospect of fighting the South Florida sun and a three-stroke deficit is a mere bump in the road for Tennessee State University's men's golf team. It's all in a week's work for the Tigers, who rode senior Chris Seibel's career-best 6-under-par 66 Saturday at PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course to make it a race with pace-setter Texas Pan-American for the Division I men's title in the 24th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship.

"We made up two strokes today, and Chris gave us a great lift," said Tigers Coach Chip Taylor, a PGA Professional, recalling how his 2009 team erasing a 10-stroke deficit in the final round. "What we're looking for is a good performance from all five tomorrow." Texas Pan-American, bidding to capture its third overall national title and first since 2007, demonstrated the depth it needed from the balance of its line-up to post a 581 total through 36 holes. Tennessee State is next at 584, followed by Jackson State University at 596, and Bethune-Cookman University at 600.

Peni Sanjoto of Prairie View A&M University sent a shot flying on Friday. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America)

"We've had two decent rounds, and despite us letting about seven or eight strokes go on the last six holes, I'd rather us be leading by three than trailing by three," said Texas Pan-American Coach Santiago De Larrea. "I'm happy that Tennessee State is there with us. They're very good fighters. It's going to be very interesting tomorrow. We have always wanted to get this title back, and I feel my kids are pretty confident and know what it will take to win."

The Championship, making its 13th consecutive appearance at PGA Golf Club, features a field of 185 student-athletes representing 41 colleges and universities and golfers from 15 countries.

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Return to Championship home Saturday photo gallery Friday recap Friday photo gallery Tee times and scoring Field list Fact sheet Upbear Career expo Championship preview

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Texas-Pan American jumps out to Five-Shot lead over Tennessee State

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Kevin Kirakossian picked an opportune moment to match his personal-best collegiate round of golf. Making his debut at PGA Golf Club on Friday, the 19-year-old freshman at the University of Texas Pan-American knocked home a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole of the Wanamaker Course to cap a 4-under-par 68 in the first round of the 24th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship. Kirakossian's seven-birdie, three-bogey performance propelled the Broncs' quintet from Edinburgh, Texas, to a 290 total and a five-stroke Division I lead over defending champion Tennessee State University, a team that arrived at the Championship from flood-ravaged Nashville having lost a week of practice.

Wesley Yates of Florida A&M kept his eye on the ball during Friday's first round. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America)

Jackson State University, which won the last of its eight national titles in 1998, is third with 297 and Bethune-Cookman University of Daytona Beach, Fla., fourth at 298. A native of Tualatin, Ore., Kirakossian collected four birdies in his final six holes, and credited keeping his round intact by making par on the 215-yard 17th hole, following a 3-iron tee shot to 25 feet. "It's my first time in this Championship and I really enjoyed the course and its design," said Kirakossian, whose brother, Armen, a senior and the 2009 Division I medalist, added a 72. "I knew that we would bring a good team here and hopefully we can keep it going." Texas-Pan American Coach Santiago De Larrea said that there's a difference from last year's squad, which finished third.

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Return to Championship home Friday photo gallery Tee times and scoring Field list Fact sheet Upbear Career expo Championship preview

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Golf successes continue at Jackson State

Now in this 26th season guiding the Jackson State University Golf programs, Eddie Payton is, without question, one of the nation's most successful collegiate golf coach. Payton also coaches his daughter Erica, a JSU junior golfer.

Jackson State golf coach Eddie Payton won his 22nd men's SWAC championship and 14th women's title last week. The women will play in the NCAA regionals May 6-8. The location has not been announced. The men will play in the national minority tournament before heading to the NCAA regionals. The date and location of the minority tournament have not been set. "That means we've done a real good job of recruiting great student-athletes and trying to get them to understand the tradition we're trying to establish," Payton said. "There's certain traits that you look for in people who want to be competitive golfers.

"You have to have a desire to be the best that you can be, then you have to be self-motivated to work on your weaknesses." Payton said his ultimate goal is to play in the NCAA national championship and be the first historically black university to do so. "That's what keeps me at Jackson State," Payton said. "That was my dream and it still is. ... That drives me every year."

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Jackson State's Shasta Averyhardt ousted in semis of Michigan Women's Amateur Golf Championship

EAST LANSING, Michigan — For the first time in four years, the championship match of the Michigan Women's Amateur Golf Championship doesn't include a Flint-area player. Flint's Shasta Averyhardt and Grand Blanc's Ashley Bauer both bowed out of the state's premier amateur event for women in today's semifinals at Walnut Hills Country Club.

Averyhardt, who finished second a year ago, was beaten 1 up in 21 holes by Stephany Fleet of DeWitt while defending champion Laura Bavaird of Grosse Ile eliminated Bauer 1 up. Averyhardt and Bauer were both making their second appearance in the final four. Bauer lost in last year's semifinals to Averyhardt, who fell in the championship match when Bavaird rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.

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Jackson State's Shasta Averyhardt gets taste of big time

Former JSU star Shasta Averyhardt played in her first USGA championship last week at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links. She made the cut of 64 and won her first match before losing the second 3 and 2. "It was different... it was fun," said Averyhardt, who was meet medalist for the 2008 SWAC champion Lady Tigers. "They treated me like a queen. I can definitely get used to it."

The atmosphere was a little different playing on the pristine Erin Hills Golf course in Erin, Wisc. - the scheduled host of the 2011 U.S. Amateur. From the strict pace of play to the locker rooms to the length of the course, the event was a taste of big-time professional golf.




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The 6-1, 22 year old Averyhardt is from Flint, Michigan and is scheduled to complete her degree requirements in accounting at JSU in December 2008. She has exhausted all four years of her eligibility in collegiate golf.