VUU Wins First CIAA Golf Championship in 48 Years
April 23, 2019
NEW KENT, VA - The Virginia Union golf team capped off their strong season in the CIAA by holding off the field to win the 2019 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Golf Championship, held at the Club at Viniterra in New Kent, VA. Fayetteville State's Sean Burke maintained his lead from round 1 to take home the individual title.
For VUU, it's the Panthers' first CIAA Championship in 48 years, having last won the CIAA title in 1971.
“This was a very special season, having won all three Spring Season tournaments (CIAA Mid-Major, The CIAA Southern and Northern Division Championship) and concluding with the winning of the CIAA Championship makes it a very special season for the team and again I think this is another first for VUU,” said VUU Head Golf Coach E. Lee Coble. "Forty-eight years is a long time between championships and I promise it will not be another forty-eight years. The season does not end here. We will begin preparation for NCAA DII Regional Competition that begins on May 9th – 11th in Greensburg, Pa. I continue to be very proud of this golf team and our Assistant Coach and Team Photographer Ricardo Andrews. The team two-day scoring average was 75.8.”
After coming into round 2 with a narrow four stroke lead, the Panthers separated from the field on the last day to finish the two-day event with a score of 607 (+31), capturing their first CIAA championship since 1971. VUU bested second place Fayetteville State, who finished with a team score of 622 (+46), by 15 strokes to sweep all CIAA contests this season. The Broncos made a strong push in the second round to move into second place and hold off defending champion Livingstone, who finished in third place during the championship with a score of 633 (+57). The Blue Bears finished in third place during all CIAA events throughout the season.
Burke, who received the Lowest Medalist award, defeated Johnson C. Smith's DeJuan Powell by shooting for par in a one-hole playoff to win the tournament. Both golfers finished the tournament with a 147 (+3). Livingstone's Michael Sutton mirrored his team's place by finishing third individually with a score of 148 (+4). Virginia Union's Paul Meints (+6, 150) and Alkin Barkley (+7, 151) helped round out the top five. All five aforementioned golfers were named to the All-Tournament team.
In addition, Burke, a sophomore from Fayetteville, NC, was named All-CIAA as well as 2019 CIAA Player of the Year, which is given to the player with the highest combined average from the CIAA Northern Tournament, CIAA Southern Tournament, and the CIAA Championship. Virginia Union's Barkley and Travon Willis shared Co-Rookie of the Year honors as well as being named to the All-CIAA team.
Joining the trio on the All-CIAA team were Allan Day (Virginia Union), Tanner Duncan (Saint Augustine's), DeJuan Powell (Johnson C. Smith), Alex Stewart (Livingstone), Paul Meints (Virginia Union), Sam Cudjoe (Saint Augustine's), & Logan Sessoms (Fayetteville State).
Virginia Union will now advance to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament, which takes place May 9th-11th in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
For a complete look at the final team and individual results, please visit https://bit.ly/2IsqusC.
1st Place - Virginia Union
2nd Place - Fayetteville State
3rd Place - Livingstone
Highest Team GPA Award - Livingstone College
CIAA Golf All-Tournament Team
Sean Burke, Fayetteville State
DeJuan Powell, Johnson C. Smith
Michael Sutton, Livingstone
Paul Meints, Virginia Union
Alkin Barkley, Virginia Union
CIAA Golf All-Conference Team
Sean Burke, Fayetteville State - Player of the Year
Alkin Barkley, Virginia Union - Co-Rookie of the Year
Travon Willis, Virginia Union - Co-Rookie of the Year
Allan Day, Virginia Union
Tanner Duncan, Saint Augustine's
DeJuan Powell, Johnson C. Smith
Alex Stewart, Livingstone
Paul Meints, Virginia Union
Sam Cudjoe, Saint Augustine's
Logan Sessoms, Fayetteville State