Paine College played with ineligible golfer

Office of Public Relations
1235 Fifteenth Street
Augusta, GA 30901

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Paine College President Responds To Golf Team Tournament Withdrawal

(AUGUSTA) - Due to the massive amount of attention surrounding the absence of the Paine College Golf Team at the National Minority Golf Competition in Florida officials have prepared the attached statement. The following statement from President George C. Bradley is a response to the situation in detail. Officials of the institution feel that it is critical to be upfront with our media constituents about the situation involving the Paine College Golf Team. Please forward all media inquires to the Paine College Office of Public Relations.

President’s Statement

The recent misunderstanding regarding Paine College’s golf program is unfortunate. I feel as bad as anyone about the situation at this time. I say that knowing that a lot of individuals are disappointed that Paine College did not avail itself of a golfing opportunity that appeared to be there – especially when it seemed as though money was the only obstacle to their participation at the National Minority Golf Competition in Florida.

The fact of the matter is that money was only a part of the problem. The other part, a much more significant one, had to do with the ineligibility of a Paine golfer who played in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship Tournament held in Albany, Georgia.

In that competition Paine beat out four other schools for the Championship.

Unfortunately, we achieved this feat with a player who was not eligible. The fact that the team won with an ineligible player was reported by officials at Paine College (self-reported) to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The reason that it has taken a considerable amount of time responding to inquiries has more to do with the nascent status of golf and golf championship participation requirements in the SIAC as well as an institution’s responsibility to the NCAA regarding non-sanctioned events. The tournament that Paine College won recently was sponsored by the SIAC, but not sanctioned by the NCAA.

The lack of the NCAA’s sanction, notwithstanding, our decision to not send our team to the National Minority Golf Competition in Florida, something that we could have done with some financial strain, had mostly to do with our determination to follow the rules required by the NCAA – regardless of the competition. After it was determined that we had an ineligible player who had participated in the tournament in Albany, our decision was to draw back.

We have a lot of confidence in our athletic director and our team. Coach Ronnie Spry is a highly successful coach and athletic director who has an impeccable record with the NCAA. Our players are fine young men who possess outstanding golfing skills. There is no doubt that they could have competed well in Florida.

It is also evident that they have devoted a great deal of time and effort in honing their golfing skills. We know, too, that winning is very important; but competing must be done with honor, fairness, and respect for the rules of golf and the NCAA. Golf demands it as much as -- if not more than-- any sport that is played in either amateur or professional competition.

Pursuant to this spirit of honor and integrity, we called one on ourselves – again, a decision that is quite common to golf.

With some clarification from the SIAC and the NCAA about golf participation, we can certainly do better. We plan to do just that – better. Careful implementation of the will of the NCAA and the SIAC, and better staff knowledge of the various guidelines set, will keep us moving in the right direction.

If there is anything good that can be salvaged from this unfortunate situation, it is a confirmation of a deeply held belief that there are many people in Augusta who support Paine College’s golf team. We have received numerous calls from people who plan to lend their financial and fan support to Paine College becoming a part of the rich golf legacy that has become synonymous with Augusta. We thank you for your continued interest and support.

George C. Bradley, Ph.D.

For more information, contact: Natasha Carter, Interim Director of Public Relations at (706) 396-7591.

Fayetteville State leads Div. II in 22nd PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship

In Division II, Fayetteville (N.C.) State University extended its lead over Lincoln University of Jefferson City, Mo., to 15 strokes after firing a second-round 7-under-par 281.

Joel Lynn a sophomore from Sanford, N.C., fired a 4-under-par 68 for a share of the lead in the Division II individual standings with teammate and first-round leader Ian Milne, a senior from Deland, Fla., at 7-under-par 144.

"I did not make any bogeys today, even though I felt like I hit the ball much better yesterday," said Lynn, who fired a 69 in his opening round. "I did hit 16 greens in regulation during my round today, which gave me a chance to score a little better."

CONTINUE READING, VIEW SCORE CARDS, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

DIVISION II MEN

Team/Players Score
1. Fayetteville State University 287-281--568
T1. Joel Lynn 69-68--137
T1. Ian Milne 68-69--137
8. Jeremy Ringled 76-71--147
T14. Kevin Lyles 74-77--151
WD Derek Scott 73-WD

Team/Players Score
2. Lincoln University 290-293--583
4. Kortland Ware 70-72--142
T6. Dan Frost 73-73--146
T6. Aaron Murphy 75-71--146
T11. Justin Watkins 72-77--149
21. Rodolfo Gamino 77-79--156

Team/Players Score
3. Virginia State University 300-290--590
3. Jerel Whiting 70-69--139
T9. Kalani Britos 73-75--148
T17. Dustin Kelley 80-73--153
T22. Greg Hunt 86-73--159
T22. Brian Wood 77-82--159

Team/Players Score
4. Morehouse College 307-304--611
T11. Edward Hill 75-74--149
T17. Philip Allen 78-75--153
19. Esquire Ward 78-76--154
20. Steven Wooten 76-79--155
24. Thaddaeus Hill 81-80--161

Team/Players Score
5. St. Augustine's College 329-311--640
5. Aaron Oliver 74-71--145
T25. Julius Wells 88-75--163
T27. Corey Landrum-Smith 82-84--166
T 27. Larry Whiteside 85-81--166

Team/Players Score
6. Benedict College 344-340--684
T14. Olajuwon Ajanaku 74-77--151
16. Galen Aldrich 78-74--152
29. Vernon Harris 88-87--175
37. Michael Taylor 104-102--206

Team/Players Score
7. Johnson C. Smith University 343-354--697
T9. Enobong Udo 74-74--148
30. Andre Kelley 88-93--181
31. Herbert L. Collins 91-94--185
32. Jamaal A. Brown 90-99--189
35. Julien Polk 104-93--197

Team/Players Score
8. Kentucky State University 342-357--699
13. Nick Morrow 75-75--150
T25. James Andersen 78-85--163
33. Kendrick Lawson 92-100--192
34. Patrick Lawrence 97-99--196
36. Jared Perkins 101-98--199

Paine College golf team is told to sit it out

Two weeks after winning the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament in golf, the Paine College men were supposed to be bidding for the school's first national championship this weekend.

Instead, the team is in disarray after athletic director Ron Spry informed the players of the school's decision not to participate in the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship, a 54-hole event which began Friday in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The Lions officially withdrew Thursday.

"The athletic director told us the school wasn't going to fund it because it was an 'unnecessary expenditure,' " freshman Sean Lucas said. "It's frustrating. We won the first golf championship at Paine. That's enough reason, I believe, for us to play in the tournament."

Spry said the decision came down to limited resources at the end of the fiscal year.

CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.

Clear case of a college not putting the "Student" first, in "student-athlete." Shameful! Paine College administration should be fired by their BOT for allowing this to happen.