Florida State jumps out to Day 1 lead at 9th PGA Jones Cup competition

With the weather conditions benign Tuesday at PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course, Florida State University turned in an opening-round 6-over-par 294 to grab the first-round lead in the ninth annual PGA Jones Cup, presented by Golf Pride and SkyGolf. Sophomore Dan Mahoney led the Seminoles, collecting four birdies on his way to 1-under-par 71. "I played well today, but I wasn't too aggressive around the greens," said Mahoney. "I left a few shots out there, but the team got off to a great start and we are excited." Mahoney ensured that he would end his day with a positive, with a birdie on the challenging 460-yard, par-4 18th. "I hit my drive right and ended up in the bunker 180 yards away," said Mahoney. "I hit a solid 4-iron and left myself with a 35-foot putt. I made it and it was a great way to finish the round." Florida State's Internship Coordinator, PGA Professional Ernie Lanford, was proud of the way his team performed. "The team really hit the ball good, but they missed some short putts, or free throws as I like to call them," said Lanford, in his 10th season as Florida State's head men's golf coach. "This tournament is as good as it gets and we are happy with the position we are in now." Coastal Carolina University of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Methodist University of Fayetteville, N.C., shared second at 296, two strokes behind the Seminoles. They are followed by Mississippi State University of Starkville, Miss., which opened with a 297. Coastal Carolina senior Mike Midgette of Plainview, N.Y., posted the day's low round of 69, a roller-coaster performance that featured eight birdies, two bogeys and a triple bogey. "My scorecard looked like a geometry lesson," said Midgette. "Our team thought they could be in contention and we have a shot to do that." Defending Champion Campbell University of Buies Creek, N.C., was at 301, and lodged in a tie for sixth. The 36-hole event, featuring all 20 schools in the PGA Golf Management University program, includes the top five players from each university. The 100-player field brought together teams from 16 states, who are competing at The PGA Golf Club for the third consecutive year. The PGA Jones Cup, named for the first PGA Golf Management University Program Director at Mississippi State University, Dr. S. Roland Jones, who held the position from 1985 until his passing in 1997, is being contested for the third consecutive year at PGA Golf Club. The event serves to provide a platform where participants can display professionalism, integrity, character and camaraderie; all characteristics Dr. Jones instilled in PGA Golf Management students. All participating universities in the PGA Jones Cup are schools accredited by The PGA of America to offer the four-and-one half to five-year PGA Golf Management University Program for aspiring PGA Professionals. The college curriculum provides extensive classroom studies, internship experience and player development, and provides students the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills to succeed in the golf industry as a PGA Professional. Students in the PGA Golf Management University Program study a combination of golf and business-related subjects, as well as serve a minimum of 16 months in on-course internships within the golf industry. First-Round Scores: 1. Florida State University -- 147-147--294; Dan Mahoney 36-35--71; Reid Howey 34-38--72; Dylan Malafronte 37-37--74; Marshall Collins 40-37--77; Mike Argentine 39-40--79 T2. Coastal Carolina University -- 146-150--296; Mike Midgette 35-34--69; Jake Johnson 38-37--75; Mark Ingalls 37-39--76; RD Darden 36-40--76; Patrick Beahn 38-39--77 T2. Methodist University -- 146-150--296; Rob Glass 35-38--73; Caleb Wilson 35-38--73; David Angelotti 37-38--75; Joel Thomas 39-36--75; Preston Combs 41-37--78 4. Mississippi State University -- 147-150--297; Matt Johnson 34-37--71; Jon Howell 33-40--73; Mark Ledom 41-34--75; Austin Tudor 39-39--78; Matt Tashenberg 41-39--80 5. New Mexico State University -- 149-149--298; Erick Henderson 37-34--71; Brett Walker 35-37--72; Elliott Wilson 38-38--76; Alex Weiss 39-40--79; Tyler Kuhn 37-42--79 T6. Arizona State University -- 151-150--301; Reed Black 36-36--72; Larry Ishimine 36-40--76; Vinnie Iniguez 40-36--76; Damon Krause 39-38--77; Neely Robertson 42-42--84 T6. Campbell University -- 153-148--301; Taylor Ray 37-37--74; Charlie Gross 37-38--75; Steven Hamby 40-36--76; Parker Reeves 39-37--76; Paterick Clark 48-43--91 T6. Florida Gulf Coast University -- 155-146--301; Brian Newman 37-36--73; James Othus 37-37--74; Pat Hurrie 38-36--74; Steve Burleson 43-37--80; Mike Vanover 43-38--81 9. Clemson University -- 149-153--302; Garrett Chapman 37-37--74; Nate Kitt 37-39--76; T.J. Twehues 37-39--76; Clayton Wonnell 38-38--76; Nick Wheeler 42-36--78 10. University of Idaho -- 154-150--304; Greg Wagner37-35--72; Loren Jeglum38-36--74; Chris Lien39-38--77; Cody Peters40-41--81; James Billings44-40--84 11. University of Central Oklahoma --149-156--305; Justin Watkins 33-41--74; Adam Miller 40-36--76; Malachi Murphy 36-40--76; Nathan Hamstead 40-39--79; Brent Romine 39-44--83 T12. University of Nebraska -- 154-154--308; Alex Beach 35-36--71; Aaron Johnson 37-40--77; Tony DePalma 40-40--80; Nick Burkart 42-38--80; Andrew Adamsick 43-40--83 T12. Sam Houston State University -- 156-152--308; Brian Kleckner 37-37--74; Austin Crossland 41-36--77; Eric Voltin 38-40--78; Kyle Unnasch 40-39--79; Michael Katrein 37-44--81 14. Penn State University -- 156-156--312; Andrew Hardin 37-35--72; Adam Parisi 39-38--77; Dan Marz 39-40--79; Paul Mudrey 41-43--84; Josh Reisner 42-48--90 15. Eastern Kentucky University -- 160-155--315; Heath Hughes 38-39--77; Kalen Boone 41-37--78; Robert Costello 40-40--80; Brock Wicker 41-39--80; Alex Martin 40-40--80 16. University of Maryland-Eastern Shore -- 159-157--316; Paul Cecil 40-37--77; Greg Raad 38-39--77; Devan Scott 38-39--77; Zach Allen 43-42--85; Erik Carlson 43-45--88 T17. Ferris State University -- 159-159--318; Eric Lilleboe 36-40--76; Zach Dryer 40-38--78; Kirk Deyer 39-43--82; Nick Haudek 44-38--82; Jordan Kreisman 40-47--87 T17. UNLV -- 155-163--318; Gavin Butcher 38-41--79; Ben Wallis 41-38--79; Daniel Inocencio 37-43--80; Cameron Alford 39-41--80; Patrick O'Hara 43-42--85 19. North Carolina State University -- 159-160--319; Zach Garrison 36-37--73; Josh Rackley 42-40--82; Travis Taylor 40-42--82; Charlie Becker 41-41--82; Tyler Yancey 43-41--84 20. University of Colorado at Colorado Springs -- 157-164--321; Dustin Moser 40-39--79; Ross McLean 39-40--79; Cameron Morton 38-42--80; Chris Williamson 40-43--83; Ben Honaman 39-49--88