Florida A&M University, led by sensational sophomore Sascha Robinson, won the Men’s Division I title on May 6 in the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship presented by Chase and Kohler at The Park in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Robinson fired a 6-under 65 to boost the Rattlers to a decisive 12-shot victory over North Carolina A&T State University. Florida A&M won in wire-to-wire fashion.
“We were just trying to play our golf,” Florida A&M Coach Mike Rice said. “Just keep doing what we do. We knew they (North Carolina A&T) were going to come at us, but we were ready for it.”
The Rattlers also won PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship (PWCC) titles in 2000 — when Rice was a player — and 2024. They led by seven shots after each of the first two rounds, then closed the title out with a 7-under performance.
“This tournament, especially to me, being one that I got a chance to play in and win my senior year, and then to come back a couple years ago and finally get it done after so many years of being close, it means a lot,” Rice said.
“It’s our national championship. No question. The PGA of America is amazing. The way they run this event, just like the PGA Championship.”
Robinson put on a Scottie Scheffler-like performance. He was the only player to shoot all three rounds in the 60s (67, 69 and 65), and the 6-foot-6 sophomore played the par 5s in 7-under.
More impressively, he played the week with a right knee injury after dealing with back issues all season that kept him from winning until May 6.
“My knee was aching pretty much the whole tournament,” said Robinson, who won twice as a freshman. “The year didn’t go the way I wanted, so it’s great to win this week.”
Added Rice, “We all know how good Sascha is. This week everybody got to see it.”
Quade Woods of Alabama State University finished second after a 69. Pedro Pereira (67-211) of North Carolina A&T State University was third.
Western New Mexico University won the Division II Men’s title in its first PWCC Championship, led by Medalist Jacob Alcorta.
The Mustangs started the final round with a five-shot lead over Morehouse College and they gradually extended their advantage to 14 shots with a team score of 299. “This is what it’s all about,” said Western New Mexico University Coach Harry O’Callahan. “I’m so delighted for them, every single one of them, one through five, and (assistant) Adam (Niles). Just such a sweet way to finish the year.
“And so impactful, massive for all of them, just to see that they can do it and to get one over the line. It’s not easy to win a college golf tournament. Just so proud of the way they handled the week.”
Alcorta started the final round with a six-shot lead, but that advantage was gone after he played his first five holes in 4-over and Denis Asabia of Livingstone College was 2-under.
“I got punched in the face early, and I had to fight through a lot of adversity and just try to get myself calm,” said Alcorta, a sophomore. “Honestly, I was nervous and just had bad swings and missed putts, and just made a few mental mistakes out there. I calmed down.”
Alcorta steadied himself by playing his last 13 holes in 1-under to pull away for a four-shot victory over Asaba. He said it was his “biggest win, by a mile.”
“It’s crazy winning the first individual and then my first team,” he said. “It’s something I’ve never experienced.”
Nashawn Tyson of Florida Atlantic University won the Men’s Individual title by two shots over Arsit Areephun of the University of Delaware. Tyson opened with a pair of 68s to take a three-shot lead over Areephun and closed with a 67 for a 203.
Tyson led by five with seven holes left, but Areephum (66) rallied with an eagle on the par-4 16th hole to cut the lead to one. Tyson birdied the 17th to lead by two going to the final hole.
“It was a very fun finish there,” said Tyson, who wore the same shirt he had on when he won last year’s Palm Beach Kennel Club County Amateur at The Park. “I finally made a few putts there.”
Amezcua Leads Islanders
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has found a variety of ways to win their last five appearances in the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship presented by Chase and Kohler.
On May 4-6 at The Park, it was all about team depth, considering the Islanders won the Women’s Team Championship without any player finishing in the top six. Instead, they finished seventh through 11th place to earn a nine-shot victory over defending champion North Carolina A&T State University.
“The biggest thing with this group is, at any given time, any five of them can be the No. 1 player,” Islanders Coach Chris Adams said.
That team balance enabled Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to shoot 22-over on May 6 on the challenging par-71 layout to finish at 65-over 917. Samantha Gibbs led the way in seventh place, with Elsa Tornvall eighth, Tristan Gabbard and Lucia Ramirez tied for ninth and Hannah Creekmore tied for 11th place.
It was the fifth PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship title for the Islanders in the last six years. They didn’t play last year because they participated in the NCAA Regionals.
“Anytime you can end with a win in your last tournament — I’ve got three seniors — it’s wonderful to end on such a high note,” Adams said.
North Carolina A&T State University had a spirited final-round comeback, shooting 299 to shave 11 strokes off Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s lead.
But the Islanders’ team depth enabled them to win one for the thumb.
“This is a great event,” Adams said. “They host it on a fantastic golf course. They (the PGA of America) host it like it’s a flat out PGA TOUR event, and it’s an honor to be here and to win.”
Texas Southern University sophomore Thaiz Amezcua won Women’s Team Medalist honors with a final-round 73 to edge Sanaa Carter (75) of North Carolina Central University by a shot.
With the two leaders playing on different nines, Amezcua didn’t know she won with a par on the 18th hole until her teammates ran to her to hug and celebrate.
“I had no idea,” Amezcua said. “Honestly, I still can’t believe it. I’m very happy about this. This is my biggest win.”
Amezcua played her final nine holes bogey-free, a birdie on the par-4 16th hole for the margin of victory. She finished at 10-over 223, despite fighting a cold all week.
“I was very sick the whole round,” she said. “I couldn’t even think straight.”
Carter led by a shot after each of the first two rounds, but a double bogey on her 17th hole in the final round was costly.
University of North Carolina-Wilmington freshman Alexis Faieta won the Women’s Individual title by five shots over Carolin Alblas of Florida Atlantic University.
Faieta led after an opening 4-under 67 that featured an eagle hole-out from the sand on the 14th hole. She finished with a 70 and a 2-over 215.
“Just such a high,” Faieta said. “It’s been so fun, even regardless of my performance, just everything else has just been a blast. The course, the location, all the people. I just had an amazing week, and to win is just the cherry on top.” —Craig Dolch
