PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Bethune-Cookman led the Division I men’s standings and Chicago State topped the university women’s leaderboard Friday in the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship.
Bethune-Cookman had a 10-over 298 total on PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker Course to take a two-stroke lead over Alabama State University. Savannah State was third, three strokes back.
Matthew McKnight led Bethune-Cookman with a 3-under 69.
“It was really windy today, so I was very impressed with my overall play,” said McKnight, who is competing in his fourth PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship. “We have three seniors, a junior and a sophomore playing this week and feel extremely comfortable on this golf course.”
Bethune-Cookman and Alabama State will play in the NCAA regionals next week.
Chicago State had a 309 total on the Ryder Course to take a nine-stroke lead over Houston-Victoria. Defending champion Bethune-Cookman was third at 321.
Brooke Melvin led Chicago State with a 76.
“I was able to keep the ball in the fairway today and make some putts, which was important,” Melvin said. “The team wanted to come out strong and it’s my last collegiate tournament so I really wanted to play well.”
In the Division II men’s competition, defending champion Lincoln University had a three-stroke lead over Texas A&M International. Brian Lillevold shot 70 to lead the Lincoln, which finished at 291.
“I started quick with a birdie on my first two holes and I just coasted from there,” Lillevold said. “We are probably the favorites this year coming back as the defending champion. And if we can just play our game, I think we will be OK coming down the stretch.”
In the women’s individual invitational, Cheryl Chua of South Carolina State opened with 72 on the Ryder Course to take a two-stroke lead over Kalea Heu of Utah Valley. In the men’s individual invitational, Dominique Worthen of LeMoyne-Owen College had a 72 to move two strokes ahead of Joseph Journey of Maryland-Eastern Shore.
In the men’s NAIA division, Houston-Victoria had the first-round lead.
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