Campbell leads New Mexico State after first round of PGA Jones Cup

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Campbell University of Buies Creek, N.C., turned in an impressive opening-round 1-under-par 287 Tuesday at PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course to grab the first-round lead in the 11th PGA Jones Cup presented by Golf Pride.

The Fighting Camels hold an eight-stroke lead over New Mexico State University, which totaled a 295. The University of Central Oklahoma stands in third at 299, while defending champion North Carolina State University is tied for fourth with Coastal Carolina University at 304. Mississippi State is sixth at 305.

“The team feels pretty good, but we realize that 18 more holes are a lot, especially if the winds kick back up again,” said Ken Jones, PGA, director of the PGA Golf Management University Program at Campbell. “We know that eight shots is not an insurmountable lead, but if we beat everyone in our group, we’ll be just fine.”

In the face of 15-mph winds, Jared Morrow of Charlotte led the Camels, collecting seven birdies on his way to the overall low score of the round, a 3-under-par 69.  Meanwhile, teammate Ryan Wolff carded a 2-under-par 70 to help pace the attack.

Morrow is excited about the opportunity his team has to win its third PGA Jones Cup title in the last six years.

“I played a good round of golf in tough conditions out there today,” said Morrow, 22, a senior at Campbell. “I didn’t play well last year and made it a point to work my tail off this year, and it really paid off today. This was one of the best rounds of golf I played without a doubt. We just need to play another round of good team golf tomorrow and see what happens.”

Rounding out the top 10 were the University of Idaho in seventh at 307, Florida Gulf Coast University is in eighth at 309, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas is ninth at 310 and Methodist University in 10th at 311.

Ryan Christensen of Guam is playing in his first PGA Jones Cup for New Mexico State, which is within range of putting in a strong bid for the title tomorrow, as the Lobos stand in second place entering the final round. Christensen learned of the PGA Golf Management University Program just this past summer when he attended the school’s introductory “Summer Experience” program. Christensen turned in a round of 4-over-par 76 Tuesday, in the face of blustery conditions.

The two females in the field of 100 players, Florida State University students Chelsea Mokary of Lake Worth, Fla., and Lauren Himebaugh of nearby Palm City, Fla., were challenged by the windy conditions, as they carded scores of 86 and 87, respectively. The Seminoles stand in 15th place at 317.

"I'm excited to compete and set the stage for women to play in the PGA Jones Cup in the future," said Himebaugh, 20, a junior in FSU's PGA Golf Management University Program, who was the sole female in last year's event.

The 36-hole event, featuring all 20 schools in the PGA Golf Management University program, includes the top five players from each University.

The event brings together teams from 16 states, who are competing at PGA Golf Club for the fifth consecutive year.

The PGA Jones Cup presented by Golf Pride is 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.

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 presented by Golf Pride 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

Campbell  141-146--287
Jared Morrow 33-36--69
Ryan Wolff 34-36--70
Ben Polland 36-36--72
Charles Gross 38-38--76
Robert Bose 44-36—-80

New Mexico State  144-151--295
Zach Fullerton 36-34--70
Brandon Myers 34-40--74
Elliott Wilson 36-39--75
Ryan Christensen 38-38--76
Chris Ortiz 36-40--76

Central Oklahoma  149-150--299
Justin Watkins 37-36--73
Baer Aneshansley 36-38--74
Derek Franco 39-36--75
Malachi Murphy 37-40--77
Justin Blomberg 40-42--82

Coastal Carolina  150-154--304
Marcus Gillmor 37-35--72
Mark Ingalls 36-39--75
Evan Degnan 39-39--78
Charles White 38-41--79
Pat Johnson 41-43--84

North Carolina State  156-148--304
Josh Rackley 38-36--74
Brian Holstein 39-36--75
Rupe Taylor 38-38--76
Bryce Aronson 41-38--79
Wes Conover 41-38--79

Mississippi State  152-153--305
Ryan Oliver 35-36--71
Andrew Sterritt 37-38--75
Andrew Porubiansky 39-39--78
Nate DeBoer 41-40--81
Taylor Jones 39-42--81

Idaho  149-158--307
Nathan Ferrell 32-38--70
Matt Montecucco 34-40--74
Justin Walker 37-42--79
Ryan Goude 46-38--84
Carey Reynolds 42-44--86

Florida Gulf Coast  156-153--309
Jordan DeBonis 38-36--74
John Pack 40-37--77
Luke Burbach 39-38--77
Ethan Fowler 39-42--81
Andres Botero 42-44--86

Nevada-Las Vegas  155-155--310
Sean Kenny 36-38--74
Daniel Inocencio 37-39--76
Jamie Carson 42-38--80
Phil Kim 40-40--80
Nathan Hill 39-42--81

Methodist  148-163--311
Ben Boyle 35-37--72
Mike Friscina 36-41--77
Don Baldassare 41-40--81
Houston Stoghill 36-45--81
Bob Glass 41-44--85

Arizona State  158-154--312
Robert Hammer 36-38--74
Jeffrey Emmerich 40-37--77
Joseph Pike 44-35--79
Jeffrey Euphrat 38-44--82
Dong Kim 41-43--84

Ferris State  150-162--312
Kyle Wittenbach 35-39--74
Dominic Scopone 38-40--78
Daniel Putzer 38-42--80
Evan Hyma 39-41--80
Kirk Deyer 46-39--85

Clemson  163-150--313
Christopher Mikulka 36-40--76
Matthew Workman 41-37--78
Prescott Hughes 44-35--79
Daniel Argentieri 42-38--80
Alexander Goss 42-43--85

Nebraska  152-164--316
Derek Francois 37-39--76
Aaron Johnson 39-39--78
Grant Davis 38-42--80
Andrew Adamsick 38-44--82
Sam Jonell 44-42--86

Florida State  153-164--317
Chris Zumpano 36-37--73
Dan Mahoney 36-42--78
Spencer Smith 38-42--80
Chelsea Mokary 43-43--86
Lauren Himebaugh 38-49--87

Sam Houston  153-164--317
Scott Archer 35-40--75
Hunter Abbott 36-42--78
Trenton Blundell 41-39--80
Gary Bell 41-43--84
Jacques LeBlanc Jr. 43-42--85

Colorado-Colorado Springs  159-158--317
Corey Johnson 38-40--78
Jeffrey Moore 42-36--78
Zach Brehm 40-40--80
Earl Gerlach 39-42--81
Travis Gruenenwald 40-44--84

Eastern Kentucky  155-167--322
Parker Brandt 37-40--77
Jordan Lockhart 37-42--79
Mikal Harpster 41-42--83
Logan Duderstadt 40-43--83
TJ Bullock 43-45--88

Maryland-Eastern Shore  166-162--328
Zach Allen 35-36--71
Matthew Kern 44-41--85
George Roy 42-44--86
Steve Westphal 45-41--86
Lewis Schnauble 47-41—88

Penn State  164-167--331
Ryan Hager 38-35--73
Chad Halvonik 42-42--84
Tyler Ferratti 41-45--86
Matthew Barr 43-45--88
Connor Farrell 47-49--96