JACKSONVILLE–– Florida A&M golf accomplished something it hasn't done since the start of this century.
Win the HBCU National Championship.
The Rattlers dominated the whole week here at TPC Sawgrass, finishing each day in first place, and finished the championship winning by 29 strokes with a score of +27, 891.
This marks the second time the Rattlers have won the HBCU National Championship after winning it for the first time in 2000 with an 853.
The last time the Rattlers won, head coach Mike Rice was the team's captain and was the men's medalist with a 208.
"It's a long time coming," Rice, who has coached the team for 13 years, the last six as the head coach, told Golfweek.com. "This is the closest team we've had in a long time and I really think that was the difference. They played for each other."
Golfweek, which is part of the USA Today Network, covered the historic moment.
On a warm, windy day, the Rattlers combined to shoot a 13-over par 301 on Wednesday at TPC Sawgrass' Stadium course to record a wire-to-wire victory as the Men's Division I Champions.
The Rattlers were led by Marcus Taylor (+2, 218), who was this year's medalist, giving the Rattlers nine medalists in PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship history.
"I'm really stoked with the win, as an individual and as a team," Taylor told Golfweek.com. "I didn't have much preparation coming into this, I was packed with academics, taking 19 credits this semester. Graduation was my main focus so I had no expectations coming into this event."
With four birdies on the card in his final round, how he finished on the famed 17th and 18th holes on the Stadium course made the difference for Taylor.
"My birdie on 17, I stood over that ball on the tee and didn't feel nervous to be honest with you," he said. "I was like it's another wedge shot and just stood up there and did what I had to do."
He stuck it to 8 feet. As for the birdie putt? "I thought 'send me out the right way and make this putt.' I was really stoked about that. On 18, driver is the best club in my bag and I absolutely laced it about 350 yards. I had 55 yards in."
Taylor hadn't played 18 holes for three weeks due to his heavy course load this semester, but his game showed little rust. "I went out and free-styled it," he said. "I'm chuffed with the result."
The Rattlers also had the number two individual finish as Patrick Mwendapole finished (+7, 223) and another top-five finish from Taylor Bell (+10, 226).
Alabama State University (56-over) finished runner up behind the Rattlers and North Carolina A&T State University (74-over) claimed third place.
GULFPORT, MS― Freshman Zoryana Hughes was dealing on Wednesday, hurling a one-hit shutout to lead the FAMU Rattlers over the Texas Southern Tigers 4-0.
Hughes (15-3) went the distance for FAMU (25-18), giving up one hit, walking three and striking out six.
The Rattlers took the lead for good in the first, scoring for the first time in the inning. Nyomi Jones came across to score the lone run of the inning for FAMU and get them on the board.
The Rattlers then tacked on runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.
FAMU's Caleb Granger earned SWAC honors for the third time this season, being named the SWAC Pitcher of the Week.
Granger had an outstanding performance on the mound, pitching seven innings and throwing seven strikeouts in the 4-0 win versus Bethune-Cookman.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Golf: Rattlers win HBCU National Championship
