Campbell University takes four-shot lead after first day of PGA Jones Cup

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Seeking a record fourth title, Campbell University of Buies Creek, N orth Carolina, raced out to a four-shot lead over Coastal Carolina University in the first round of the 13th PGA Jones Cup presented by Golf Advisor. Playing in swirling winds that reached 20 miles per hour at PGA Golf Club, the Camels were paced by Sophomore Ian Illig, of Homer City, Pennsylvania, who shot 69, the only under-par round in the 95-player field.

 

Three-time Champion Mississippi State University is in third place, seven shots back at 310.  Florida State University is fourth, nine shots back at 312, with the University of Central Oklahoma and University of Maryland-Eastern Shore tied for fifth at 313.

 

The PGA Jones Cup presented by Golf Advisor is named for the first PGA Golf Management University Program Director at Mississippi State, Dr. S. Roland Jones, who held the position from 1985 until his passing in 1997. The event provides a platform where participants can display professionalism, integrity, character and camaraderie; all characteristics Dr. Jones instilled in PGA Golf Management students.

 

The 36-hole event concludes on Wednesday on the Wanamaker Course, with a 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.

 

Coastal Carolina Junior Charles White experienced the thrill of a lifetime by sinking the first-ever hole-in-one in PGA Jones Cup history on Tuesday. The Hershey, Pennsylvania-native used a 9-iron on the 180-yard, par-3 sixth hole on the Wanamaker Course. With strong winds at his back, White hit his tee shot pure and watched it roll from the right-center of the green, down the bank and into the hole.

 

A joyous celebration followed among White and his fellow competitors in the group from Methodist University, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Eastern Kentucky University.

 

“It was very cool,” said White, who collected his first-ever ace. “I was a little lucky. It’s an honor to have hit the first hole-in-one in PGA Jones Cup history. It was unbelievable. I saw it go down the slope and then it disappeared. Coach [Gil Feagin] said to ride the wind to the middle of the green, and let it do its thing. And that’s what I did.  It’s just a shock.”

 

His playing partners were talking about the hole-in-one after the round with several other representatives from the 19 colleges and universities competing in the Championship.

 

“It was the best thing I have ever seen,” said Joey Faulconer of Eastern Kentucky University.  “He rode that ridge all the way around into the cup. The wind was gusting downhill. It was perfectly hit right on the green. Everyone went berserk.”

 

Even with today’s winds, Campbell’s Illig found some magic, too, using five birdies to offset two bogeys.

 

“I played a solid round, and I made some putts,” said Illig.  “My main goal is to aim for pars and for the birdies to come when they did. The wind was definitely a factor today. You had to take it into consideration on every shot you hit.”

 

Campbell’s Coach Ken Jones, Director of the school’s PGA Golf Management University Program, knows that with a tight-grouped bunch near the top, the PGA Jones Cup presented by Golf Advisor promises to have an exciting finish on Wednesday.

 

“We’re ahead, but really anything can happen,” said Jones. “ It would be really nice to bring home the trophy for the fourth time. Everyone is going to be gunning for us tomorrow. We really can’t start writing the acceptance speeches.”

 

Defending Champion Ferris State University is tied for 11th place, 19 shots back. 

 

All participating universities in the PGA Jones Cup presented by Golf Advisor are schools accredited by the PGA of America to offer the PGA Golf Management University Program for aspiring PGA Professionals. There are currently 2,440 students enrolled in the program nationwide.

 

First-Round Scores:

 

1. Campbell – 303

Ian Illig 34-35—69

Robert Fenton 36-39—75

Connor Reilly 40-39—79

Kevin Nagy 35-45—80

Brian Jones 42-41—83

 

2. Coastal Carolina – 307 

Morgan Deneen 35-38—73

Zackary Staub 38-37—75

Ross Seaman 41-38—79

Peter Basso 42-38—80

Charles White 43-42--85

 

3. Mississippi State – 310  

Blake Hatfield 36-40—76

Braxton Rainey 38-39—77

Ryan Oliver 38-40—78

Andrew Porubiansky 38-41—79

Garrett Bernhardt 41-39—80

 

4. Florida State – 312 

Spencer Smith 35-39—74

Andrew Story 41-37—78

Christopher Stone 42-37—79

Dan Mahoney 40-41—81

Parker Soule 43-42—85

 

5. Central Oklahoma – 313 

Holden Crago 38-40—78

Jake Loveland 37-41—78

Justin Watkins 40-38—78

Devin Kerbaugh 42-37—79

Katie Bensch 39-41—80

 

5. Maryland Eastern Shore – 313 

Jesse Williams 37-38—75

Mike Veverka 39-38—77

Tiana Jones 37-42—79

Greg Raad 37-45—82

Norman Blanco 41-45—86

 

7. New Mexico State – 315 

Jonathan Parker 39-36—75

Nate LeBlanc 39-38—77

Cole Lorenz 40-41—81

Anthony Del Dotto 40-42—82

Arthur Doorn 44-44—88

 

8. Eastern Kentucky – 318

Mikal Harpster 42-36—78

Tyler Collet 39-40—79

Joey Faulconer 39-40—79

Chase Garris 42-40—82

Josh Griffin 41-42—83

 

8. Sam Houston State – 318 

Matt Rinehart 39-35—74

Garrett Smith 38-38—76

Shane Hall 40-42—82

Alex Lee 43-43—86

Chris Hendrickson 43-50—93

 

10. Florida Gulf Coast – 321 

Corey Weckerling 35-42—77

Turner Batdorf 38-41—79

Brandon Jeffries 41-40—81

Austin Davenport 39-45—84

Warren Chappuis 42-44—86

 

11. Clemson – 322 

Alex Goss 41-39—80

Victor Choi 42-38—80

Robbie Failes 43-38—81

Chris Sells 38-43—81

Alex Totusek 40-48—88

 

11. Ferris State – 322

Kosta Ramirez 37-42—79

Timothy Pearce 37-43—80

Jordan Weinger 43-37—80

Aaron Caverley 43-40—83

Matthew Goldi 43-42—85

 

13. UNLV – 324 

Phil Soo Kim 36-40—76

Jake Dolby 40-41—81

Austin Snow 39-44—83

Erik Matthewson 40-44—84

Jeromy Stoks 46-43—89

 

14. Nebraska – 325

Andrew Moores 36-41—77

Brad Bailey 40-40—80

Connor Lindahl 43-39—82

Brett Klug 41-45—86

Grant Davis 47-39—86

 

14. Colorado-Colorado Springs – 325 

Chris Ingram 38-40—78

Alex Calleja 41-38—79

Matthew Goodson 41-42—83

Chris Boehm 44-41—85

Ian Ott 47-41—88

 

16. Penn State – 326 

Ryan Hager 43-36—79

Doug Rutherford 41-40—81

Jamie Hoke 41-41—82

Steve Sanderson 42-42—84

Michael Esworthy 45-41—86

 

17. Idaho – 327 

Tyler Clavin 38-41—79

Jordan Ferguson 42-39—81

Brandon Drake 40-43—83

Eric McCabe 43-41—84

Taylor Riggin 41-43—84

 

18. North Carolina State – 332 

Tim Palmer 38-41—79

Reed Riley 41-42—83

Ben Justus 41-43—84

Zachary Rubenstein 42-44—86

Anthony Capra 45-42—87

 

19. Methodist – 335 

Dan Hemme 41-38—79

Brandon Peters 43-40—83

Dane Allen 44-41—85

Josh Leddy 47-41—88

James Bruns 44-46—90