NEWS

Mississippi State closes strong to win its record third PGA Jones Cup

By Randy Stutzman, The PGA of America
Published on
Mississippi State closes strong to win its record third PGA Jones Cup

The first phone call that Adam Scott, program coordinator at Mississippi State University, made Wednesday afternoon following his team capturing the 9th PGA Jones Cup, was to Program Director Jeff Adkerson, who was in the middle of teaching a class. "I told him we got the Cup back," said Scott. "He put me on speaker phone and the class roared. It was bittersweet not to have him here, but I guess that means I have to come back again next year." The Bulldogs closed with a final-round 5-over-par 293 and 590 total at PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course to defeat Methodist University in Fayetteville, N.C., by one stroke. Mississippi State became the first PGA Golf Management University to win three PGA Jones Cup titles. "This is really special, especially since the event is named after our first director, Dr. Jones," said Scott. "We started catching wind on the back nine and never looked back." Adkerson, who was reached by phone after Scott's initial call, was overwhelmed. "It was hard for me not to be there, but we were getting updates all day yesterday and today," said Adkerson. "Everyone in the program is so excited and I could not be prouder of those guys. "I don't think after this win I am going to be invited back," Adkerson joked. The Bulldogs were led by freshman Matt Johnson, who used three birdies on the back nine to close with a 1-over-par 73 and 144 total. "We knew what we had to do and we did just that," said Johnson. "We have four seniors on the team and they wanted this bad. We brought it today." Johnson, who closed his front nine with bogeys at 6, 7, and 9, bounced back quickly with birdies on 11 and 12. "I made a 30-footer at No. 11 and chipped in at No. 12. That helped me so much," said Johnson. "I just really started rolling putts well and they started falling." Methodist University, who sat in a tie for second heading into the final round, closed with a 295 for a 591 total. "Our team played solid and we came up just short," said Bob Bruns, the assistant director at Methodist University. "It was nice to play well and I am proud of how this team played this week." New Mexico State University finished alone in third at 596 and was followed by Coastal Carolina University of Myrtle Beach, S.C., at 597. Defending Champion Campbell University of Buies Creek, N.C., was alone in fifth at 598. The 36-hole event, featuring all 20 schools in the PGA Golf Management University program, included the top five players from each university. The 100-player field brought together teams from 16 states, who were 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. Roland S. 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 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. Final Scores: 1. Mississippi State University -- 297-293--590; Matt Johnson 71-73--144; Jon Howell 73-72--145; Mark Ledom 75-71--146; Austin Tudor 78-77--155; Matt Tashenberg 80-86--166 2. Methodist -- 296-295--591; David Angelotti 75-70--145; Caleb Wilson 73-75--148; Joel Thomas 75-74--149; Rob Glass 73-77--150; Preston Combs 78-76--154 3. New Mexico State University -- 298-298--596; Erick Henderson 71-71--142; Brett Walker 72-74--146; Elliott Wilson 76-74--150; Tyler Kuhn 79-79--158; Alex Weiss 79-82--161 4. Coastal Carolina University -- 296-301--597; Mike Midgette 69-71--140; RD Darden 76-76--152; Jake Johnson 75-78--153; Patrick Beahn 77-76--153; Mark Ingalls 76-79--155 5. Campbell University -- 301-297--598; Taylor Ray 74-73--147; Charlie Gross 75-75--150; Parker Reeves 76-74--150; Steven Hamby 76-75--151; Paterick Clark 91-76--167 6. Florida Gulf Coast University -- 301-303--604; James Othus 74-74--148; Pat Hurrie 74-79--153; Brian Newman 73-81--154; Steve Burleson 80-75--155; Mike Vanover 81-75--156 7. Arizona State University -- 301-304--605; Reed Black 72-72--144; Damon Krause 77-76--153; Neely Robertson 84-74--158; Vinnie Iniguez 76-82--158; Larry Ishimine 76-83--159 8. Sam Houston State University -- 308-303--611; Eric Voltin 78-73--151; Brian Kleckner 74-78--152; Austin Crossland 77-77--154; Kyle Unnasch 79-75--154; Michael Katrein 81-81--162 9. University of Central Oklahoma -- 305-307--612; Malachi Murphy 76-75--151; Justin Watkins 74-77--151; Nathan Hamstead 79-79--158; Brent Romine 83-76--159; Adam Miller 76-85--161 10. Penn State University -- 312-301--613; Andrew Hardin 72-77--149; Adam Parisi 77-73--150; Dan Marz 79-78--157; Paul Mudrey 84-73--157; Josh Reisner 90-79--169 T11. Idaho -- 304-310--614; Greg Wagner 72-77--149; Loren Jeglum 74-79--153; Cody Peters 81-76--157; Chris Lien 77-85--162; James Billings 84-78--162 T11. Nebraska -- 308-306--614; Alex Beach 71-77--148; Aaron Johnson 77-73--150; Andrew Adamsick 83-76--159; Nick Burkart 80-80--160; Tony DePalma 80-81--161 13. Florida State -- 294-322--616; Dylan Malafronte74-78--152; Marshall Collins77-77--154; Dan Mahoney71-85--156; Mike Argentine79-82--161; Reid Howey72-90--162 14. Clemson -- 302-316--618; Clayton WonnellV 76-76--152; Nate Kitt 76-79--155; Garrett Chapman 74-81--155; T.J. Twehues 76-80--156; Nick Wheeler 78-84--162 15. North Carolina State University -- 319-301--620; Zach Garrison 73-71--144; Josh Rackley 82-67--149; Charlie Becker 82-80--162; Travis Taylor 82-85--167; Tyler Yancey 84-83--167 T16. Eastern Kentucky University -- 315-315--630; Heath Hughes 77-74--151; Robert Costello 80-80--160; Brock Wicker 80-80--160; Kalen Boone 78-82--160; Alex Martin 80-81--161 T16. Ferris State University -- 318-312--630; Eric Lilleboe 76-72--148; Kirk Deyer 82-76--158; Zach Dryer 78-83--161; Nick Haudek 82-81--163; Jordan Kreisman 87-85--172 T16. University of Maryland-Eastern Shore -- 316-314--630; Greg Raad77-77--154; Paul Cecil77-83--160; Devan Scott77-83--160; Zach Allen85-77--162; Erik Carlson88-77--165 19. UNLV -- 318-313--631; Daniel Inocencio 80-69--149; Cameron Alford 80-79--159; Ben Wallis 79-83--162; Gavin Butcher 79-88--167; Patrick O'Hara 85-82--167 20. University of Colorado at Colorado Springs -- 321-316--637; Ross McLean 79-76--155; Chris Williamson 83-76--159; Cameron Morton 80-80--160; Dustin Moser 79-90--169; Ben Honaman 88-84--172