Champions are crowned at PGA Minority Collegiate Championship

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman University's men's team and the University of Texas-Pan American's women's team captured Division I titles Sunday in the 25th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship presented by Brown Capital Management. The 54-hole Championship was contested at PGA Golf Club.

The Bethune-Cookman men's team, which held a six-stroke lead heading into the final round, finished with an 887 total, 12 strokes ahead of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. Savannah (Ga.) State University finished in third place overall in the division.

Matthew McKnight led the Wildcats and was also the Division I medalist, firing a final-round 71 for a 1-under-par 215 total.

"The team played solid all week, we kicked it into gear today and it feels so good to win this title," said McKnight, who was playing in his first Minority Championship. "I was able to keep my game steady all week and to do this for my team makes it that much more special."

PGA Professional Scooter Clark, in his first year as head coach at Bethune-Cookman, was proud of his team's accomplishment.

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UTPA, Bethune-Cookman, Morehouse and Talladega win PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship Titles

The University of Texas-Pan American men's team and Bethune-Cookman University's women's unit found such a formula is alive and well Sunday afternoon as each carved a path to NCAA Division I titles in the 24th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship. Texas-Pan American senior Armen Kirakossian collected four back-nine birdies for a 4-under-par 68 on PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course, while his teammates didn't miss a beat and took advantage of stumbles by defending champion Tennessee State University for a two-stroke (872 to 874) victory. It was Texas-Pan American's fourth overall title and first since 2007.

"We found the chemistry that we needed at the start of the year," said Broncs Coach Santiago De Larrea. "Armen was great, but so were guys like his brother, Kevin, and [freshman] Brandon Reyna. This is just my second season as coach, and it makes me feel as good now as when I was here in 2002 on the team and playing for a championship."

The Bethune-Cookman University team, which won the Women's Division, celebrated by spelling out BCU with their coach. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America)

Bethune-Cookman's quintet, which is more like five sisters than an international mix of English, Venezuelan and American golf talent, posted a 54-hole school and tournament-record 885 total for its eighth overall title. This Wildcat unit was led by junior Kim Wong of East Montpelier, Vt., whose closing 3-over-par 75 on the Ryder Course might have sealed medalist honors at 216, but senior teammate Emma Tayler of Devon, England, sprinkled in a bogey-free 70 to ensure that she would not be forgotten.

"The stage was set for the team to go on to a championship when I took over as head coach 10 days ago, and they performed tremendously," said Bethune-Cookman Coach and PGA Professional Loritz "Scooter" Clark, who succeeded PGA Professional Gary Freeman, who has reduced his coaching duties due to health reasons and was the architect of the Wildcats' golf powerhouse. "This was a team that supported each other on and off the course," said Wong. "We came in and did what we had to do. It's amazing -- three straight days of the same total scoring (295)! I'm really going to miss my four teammates next year. We have four freshmen coming in next year and with big shoes to fill."

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2010 FINAL RESULTS: Scoring

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