When he took over as the Paine men's golf coach three years ago, Fred Summers had a five-year plan in mind.

Now, he's having to readjust his goals.

After winning their first Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship in April, the Lions have their sights set on something larger: a national championship.

Paine begins first-round play today in the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship at The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The 54-hole event runs through Sunday.

"We're going down there to win," said Summers, whose team finished fourth in this event last year. "They're on a high right now you wouldn't believe."

"I think we're going to go down there and do great," freshman Daniel Augustus said. "I feel pretty confident. We have a good vibe as a team. We have a great relationship. We're all good friends."

With golf in Augusta a natural fit, Paine began the sport in 2005. Summers, a longtime golfer who taught golf at Lane College, received a call from athletic director Ron Spry. Summers received an offer as an assistant men's basketball position as well as golf's head coaching gig.

"Golf in Augusta, Georgia? Definitely," he said. "That was a no-brainer."

Summers began with senior Antwan Hawthorne, a Richmond Academy golfer and football player. Summers added Sean Lucas, of Los Angeles, and Daniel Augustus, of Bermuda, the team's Nos. 2 and 3 players, respectively. Hawthorne and Lucas are SIAC all-conference first-team members, while Augustus earned second-team honors.

Summers, who's planning to bring in three players in the off-season, said recruiting is relatively simple.

"A lot of the kids want to come to Augusta," he said. "They all want to experience the Masters."

Chauncey Davis is the team's No. 4 while baseball players Brian Shuler and Wendell Celestine battle for the No. 5 position.

"He's capable of playing in the 70s," Summers said of Davis.

Despite not having golf facilities of its own, Paine practices between three to five days a week at Forest Hills Golf Club.

The Lions' work paid off with a pair of spring victories, including the first SIAC Tournament held since 1980.

"We knew going into it we had a real good chance to win it," Summers said. "We just had to put three good days together."

The Lions shot rounds of 321-311-326 to defeat Morehouse by 21 shots.

Augustus shot 79-73-76 to finish second individually, one shot behind Morehouse's Phillip Allen. Augustus needed a birdie on the final hole to tie for the lead. Instead, his chip from 15 feet lipped out.

With the team win and individual runner-up in the SIAC Tournament, Paine now takes its game to its biggest event of the year.

The Lions are one of 52 teams vying for the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship.

They are ahead of Summers' plan. Not that he minds.

"I honestly didn't think we'd be this good this fast," he said.