Bethune’s men, women claim titles
PORT ST. LUCIE — For the 14th time, the Bethune-Cookman University women left Port St. Lucie on Sunday as victors of the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship at PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker and Ryder Courses.
Not to be outdone, the BethuneCookman men claimed their fourth win in five years with a 16-stroke margin (875) over Universit y of Inc arnate Word (891). BethuneCookman’s Sam Sloman had a threeday total of 217 that made him the Division I medalist.
The Bethune-Cookman women enjoyed their sixth consecutive victory with a three-day 889, defeating second-place Incarnate Word (919) by 30 strokes. The Wildcats were led by Mackenzie Butzer (215), whose final round, a 1-under 71, solidified her position as the division’s medalist. She finished nine strokes ahead of teammate Alejandra Sanchez and Incarnate Word’s Madison Frerking.
“Today, I had the mentality of playing easy golf,” said Butzer, who was runner-up for medalist last year. “I worked extremely hard all year and my game has come together, finally.”
Meanwhile, a three-stroke advantage heading into Sunday’s final round grew to five for the University of Connecticut’s Nabeel Khan. He carded a final round, 4-under 68, the Championship’s lowest round, and fended off last year’s champion David Liu (213) of Palm Beach Atlantic to win the Men’s Individual Invitational. Khan, a sophomore from Westerville, Ohio, shot 208 and was the only player in any division to break par in all three rounds after a 1-under 71 on Friday and a 3-under 69 on Saturday.
“Any win means a lot, but this one in particular is special,” said Khan, who will tee it up this morning in a U.S. Open local qualifier at Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati. “I get to represent my school and where I’m from. This is a really big stepping-stone for my career.”
It was a new year, same result for the Women’s Individual Invitational. Maryland Eastern Shore’s Tiana Jones (232) cruised to a five-stroke victory over West Alabama’s Kaitlyn Rose (237). It was Jones’ fourth consecutive victory at this championship.
A pair of playoffs determined the team champion and medalist honors for the Men’s Division II battle. After finishing 54 holes knotted at 927, Lincoln University and West Alabama played t wo more holes to determine the champion. West Alabama sealed the victory with a team-combined 2-under-par on the second playoff hole, beating Lincoln by one stroke. West Alabama was led by Brannon O’Pry, who defeated Virginia State’s Samuel Reid in a separate playoff to earn the Men’s Division II medalist.
The Jaguars of the University of Houston-Victoria (925) took home the NAIA Division trophy for the third time in four years.
Juan David Coy (229) edged out teammates Terry Strickland and Christian Esparza by two strokes for medalist honors.
“This is my favorite event to come to,” said Bethune-Cookman’s Butzer, who will compete in the Canadian Amateur and Ontario Amateur this summer.
“The course, people and competition are all great. It’s just a special atmosphere to be around.”