NEWS

Campbell University runs away to 17- stroke victory at PGA Jones Cup

By Michael Abramowitz
Published on

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Senior-laden Campbell University of Buies Creek, N.C., made an impressive team effort Wednesday to capture the 11th PGA Jones Cup presented by Golf Pride.

The Fighting Camels closed with a final-round 6-under-par 282 for a 569 total at PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course to protect its first-round lead and defeat runner-up New Mexico State by 17 strokes. The University of Central Oklahoma finished third, 29 shots off the pace.

With the victory, Campbell claimed its third PGA Jones Cup title in the past six years, tying Mississippi State for the most championships in tournament history.

“They knew they would play well, and it didn’t surprise them,” said Ken Jones, PGA, director of the PGA Golf Management University Program at Campbell. “This is a special event and to win the national championship for PGA Golf Management University Programs is really exciting.”

The Camels, which finished 7 under par for the tournament, were paced by medalist Ryan Wolff, a senior from Shokan, N.Y., who fired back-to-back rounds of 70. Of the eight rounds played under par today in windy conditions, three were shot by Campbell players -- Charles Gross (67-143), Ben Polland (70-142) and Wolff.  Polland finished tied for second individually with Kyle Wittenbach of Ferris State.

“It was a great day and a lot of fun, but the most important part is that we are bringing the Jones Cup back home,” said Wolff.  “We came here with a great team, and we were very confident.”

“Our main goal was to come here, play our best and go under par,” added Polland, a senior from Bloomington, Minn. “This really means a lot, especially winning our third title in the past six years.”

Rounding out the Campbell squad were senior Jared Morrow of Charlotte, who fired the low score of the first round, and the lone underclassmen on the team, sophomore Robert Bose of Norfolk, Va.

Defending Champion North Carolina State of Raleigh finished in fourth place with a 599 total.

The 36-hole Championship featured all 20 schools in the PGA Golf Management University program and showcased the top five players from each University.

The event brought together teams from 16 states, who competed 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 University 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.

Upon graduation and eligible employment, students are able to be elected to PGA Membership.

Final Scores:

Campbell  287-282--569
Ryan Wolff 70-70--140
Ben Polland 72-70--142
Charles Gross 76-67--143
Jared Morrow 69-77--146
Robert Bose 80-75--155

New Mexico State  295-291--586
Elliott Wilson 75-68--143
Zach Fullerton 70-74--144
Ryan Christensen 76-73--149
Brandon Myers 74-76--150
Chris Ortiz 76-78--154

Central Oklahoma  299-299--598
Baer Aneshansley 74-74--148
Derek Franco 75-74--149
Justin Watkins 73-76--149
Malachi Murphy 77-75--152
Justin Blomberg 82-84--166

North Carolina State  304-295--599
Josh Rackley 74-73--147
Wes Conover 79-70--149
Brian Holstein 75-76--151
Rupe Taylor 76-76--152
Bryce Aronson 79-79--158

Methodist  311-296--607
Ben Boyle 72-71--143
Mike Friscina 77-73--150
Bob Glass 85-74--159
Houston Stoghill 81-78--159
Don Baldassare 81-84--165

Florida State  317-293--610
Spencer Smith 80-66--146
Chris Zumpano 73-75--148
Dan Mahoney 78-78--156
Lauren Himebaugh 87-75--162
Chelsea Mokary 86-77--163

Mississippi State  305-305--610
Andrew Sterritt 75-72--147
Ryan Oliver 71-79--150
Andrew Porubiansky 78-72--150
Taylor Jones 81-82--163
Nate DeBoer 81-83--164

Nevada-Las Vegas  310-304--614
Sean Kenny 74-76--150
Daniel Inocencio 76-77--153
Phil Kim 80-75--155
Jamie Carson 80-76--156
Nathan Hill 81-85—166

Ferris State  312-303--615
Kyle Wittenbach 74-68--142
Dominic Scopone 78-79--157
Daniel Putzer 80-78--158
Evan Hyma 80-78--158
Kirk Deyer 85-82--167

Coastal Carolina  304-312--616
Marcus Gillmor 72-80--152
Evan Degnan 78-74--152
Mark Ingalls 75-79--154
Charles White 79-79--158
Pat Johnson 84-80—164

Colorado-Colorado Springs  317-302--619
Corey Johnson 78-75--153
Zach Brehm 80-75--155
Jeffrey Moore 78-77--155
Earl Gerlach 81-75--156
Travis Gruenenwald 84-82—166

Clemson  313-309--622
Christopher Mikulka 76-79--155
Prescott Hughes 79-77--156
Alexander Goss 85-73--158
Daniel Argentieri 80-80--160
Matthew Workman 78-87--165

Arizona State  312-311--623
Robert Hammer 74-78--152
Jeffrey Emmerich 77-77--154
Dong Kim 84-74--158
Jeffrey Euphrat 82-82--164
Joseph Pike 79-87--166

Florida Gulf Coast  309-316--625
Jordan DeBonis 74-75--149
Luke Burbach 77-75--152
John Pack 77-82--159
Ethan Fowler 81-86--167
Andres Botero 86-84--170

Idaho  307-318--625
Nathan Ferrell 70-77--147
Matt Montecucco 74-81--155
Justin Walker 79-77--156
Ryan Goude 84-83--167
Carey Reynolds 86-83--169

Nebraska  316-309--625
Derek Francois 76-76--152
Aaron Johnson 78-76--154
Andrew Adamsick 82-75--157
Grant Davis 80-84--164
Sam Jonell 86-82--168

Eastern Kentucky  322-316--638
Jordan Lockhart 79-76--155
Mikal Harpster 83-76--159
Parker Brandt 77-83--160
Logan Duderstadt 83-81--164
TJ Bullock 88-83--171

Sam Houston  317-324--641
Scott Archer 75-79--154
Hunter Abbott 78-80--158
Trenton Blundell 80-84--164
Jacques LeBlanc Jr. 85-81--166
Gary Bell 84-87--171

Penn State  331-327--658
Ryan Hager 73-78--151
Chad Halvonik 84-82--166
Tyler Ferratti 86-81--167
Matthew Barr 88-86--174
Connor Farrell 96-94--190

Maryland-Eastern Shore  328-331--659
Zach Allen 71-75--146
George Roy 86-83--169
Lewis Schnauble 88-84--172
Matthew Kern 85-89--174
Steve Westphal 86-98--184