Pan American leads PGA Minority Collegiate

Kevin Kirakossian shot a 5-under 67 in windy conditions Saturday on PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker Course to help defending champion Texas-Pan American take the second-round lead in the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship.

Texas-Pan American had a 3-over 291 for a 9-over 585 total and four-stroke lead over Bethune-Cookman in the Division I standings. Alabama State was third, nine shots back.

“The round was really good today, considering I played the par 5s at 1 over for the day,” Kirakossian said. “Our team wanted to come out and win the day, shoot the lowest score of any team out there. Then we could see where we stood and try and win it all tomorrow.”

“We wanted to build on our lead and play well as a team,” Orozco said. “I hit a lot of wedges into greens, hit it close and made some good birdies.”

In the other men’s divisions, Lincoln University had a 13-stroke lead over Texas A&M International in Division II, and Talladega College opened a 30-shot lead in NAIA play.

Nick Goeke topped Lincoln with a 72.

“I was able to hold it together all day and made a few birdies on the back nine to get back to even par,” Goeke said. “The wind was really picking up, especially on the back nine, so it felt good to help the team out with a good score.”

Alabama State’s Robert Grant, from England, shot a 77 to top the men’s independent division at 4 over, a stroke ahead of UNLV’s Daniel Inocencio.

“I got off to a really rough start today. With the wind picking up it made it hard to judge at first,” Grant said. “Some silly mistakes cost me, but I still have a lead and need to play well again tomorrow.”

Texas Wesleyan’s Alexis Belton had a 72 to take a two-stroke lead in the women’s independent division at 5 over.