PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida — Methodist University has always “done golf” really well. The school’s Division III men’s and women’s golf programs have combined on 37 National Championships, including six this decade.
Now it is time to plan another golf celebration, but this time the party will be thrown by the school’s renowned PGA Golf Management Program.
Methodist (+25, 601) won its first PGA Jones Cup on Wednesday by 11 shots over Penn State and the University of Central Oklahoma (612). Mississippi State and the event’s defending champion, Florida Gulf Coast, tied for fourth at 617. The 36-hole event was played on the Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club.
“We haven’t always played well down here historically, yet we had a different feeling about this group,” said Bob Bruns, the Director of Methodist’s PGA Golf Management Program.
“They’re fun to be around, but they’re also talented and experienced.”
While Methodist’s “starting five” in Port St. Lucie were all making their PGA Jones Cup debuts, they weren’t new to competitive golf. Three played previously for Methodist’s NCAA men’s golf program, which most recently captured the Division III title in 2018: Larkin Gross, Lucas Spahl and Anthony Panepento.
That experience coupled with a burning desire to get Methodist’s PGA Golf Management program off the schnide provided all the fuel required to hold off final-round charges from a slew of schools.
“At one point on the back 9, (defending champion) Florida Gulf Coast was right there, Penn State was within four shots and Central Oklahoma was in the mix all day,” said Bruns. “Earlier this morning, Maryland-Eastern Shore actually tied us. So our job as coaches was to
Methodist University holds on to claim its first PGA Jones Cup
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By John Dever, PGA of America Published on Wednesday, November 20, 2019