Virginia Union claims CIAA Golf title; Livingstone takes 3rd place

Published 9:42 pm Friday, April 19, 2019

By Post Sports

NEW KENT, Va. — Virginia Union continued its strong season here Friday, winning the CIAA Golf Championship at the Club at Viniterra.
The Panthers’ team score of 607 was 15 strokes better than runner-up Fayetteville State at 622. Livingstone, in second place after Thursday’s first round, finished third at 633.
By winning the title, its first in the conference since 1971, Virginia Union advances to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament, May 9-11, in Greensburg, Pa.

The medalist was Fayetteville State’s Sean Burke, who maintained his first-round lead (1-under par 71) with a 76, taking home the individual title. Burke was actually tied at 147 by Dejuan Powell of Johnson C. Smith, but won the championship with a par on the first playoff hole.

Livingstone, the defending champs, finished in third place during all CIAA events throughout the season. After firing a 305 on Thursday, the Blue Bears struggled to a second-round 328 on Friday.
Michael Sutton led Livingstone, coached by Andre Springs, with a two-day 148 (72-76), finishing third individually behind Burke and Powell.
Okwong Titus followed Sutton for the Blue Bears, finishing 13th with a 159 (73-86). Livingstone’s Alex Stewart and Deangelo Stowe shot 166s to tie for 19th place while teammate Marcus Thompson (167) tied for 21st.
Virginia Union’s Paul Meints (150, 74-76) and Alkin Barkley (151, 78-73) joined Burke, Powell and Sutton on the all-tournament team.
In addition, Burke, a sophomore from Fayetteville, was named All-CIAA as well as the 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.

The remainder of the All-CIAA team included Livingstone’s Stewart.

Off the course, Livingstone won the award for the highest team grade point average.

CIAA Golf Tournament

Team Scores

Virginia Union          607 (301-306)

Fayetteville St.          622 (314-308)

Livingstone               633 (305-328)

Chowan                      656 (327-329)

St. Augustine’s          657 (335-322)

J.C. Smith                  667 (333-334)

Virginia St.                682 (345-337)

Elizabeth City St.     803 (407-396)

Individual scores (Top 12)

Sean Burks, Fay. St.         147 (71-76)

Dejuan Powell, JCSU       147 (73-74)

Michael Sutton, LC          148 (72-76)

Paul Meints, VUU            150 (74-76)

Alkin Barkley, VUU          151 (78-73)

Allan Day, Va. Union       153 (81-72)

Tanner Duncan, St. Aug’s  153 (79-74)

Sergio Escalante, VUU     155 (78-77)

James Moore, St. Aug’s   156 (77-79)

Logan Sessoms, FSU        156 (78-78)

Andrew Moon, FSU          157 (79-78)

Travon Willis, VUU          157 (77-80)

Okwong Titus, LC             159 (73-86)

Donald Thaxton, Chowan  160 (82-78)

Corey Bissen, FSU             162 (86-76)

 

Highest Team GPA Award — Livingstone

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

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