keep our squad calm and get them settled in. To see them respond as they did made this even more gratifying.”
Gross’ two-day total of 142 rendered the event’s lone sub-par finish at 2-under.
If Gross led the Monarchs to the Cup, Penepento (152, T-12) and Spahl (153, T-16) polished it with top-20 finishes of their own. Steve Hopley (79, Tuesday) and Ryan Shuck (75, Wednesday) each contributed to the team effort.
“Larkin is unbelievable,” said Spahl, a senior. “I’ve been lucky enough to play on the golf team with him for four years and between tournaments and qualifying, he brings his A-game every single day.
He’s (a two-time All-American) and it’s a treat to not only be on the PGA Jones Cup Team with him, but to share this victory with him.”
Methodist’s breakthrough win was not for the five players and two administrators in Florida this week, rather it was for its graduates and the 120 other PGM students back on campus in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
“We went to dinner last night with a bunch of our PGM guys that graduated before us that are working in Jupiter. Some had played on previous PGA Jones Cup teams and they let us
know that this was important,” said Gross. “So, it feels really good to be able to accomplish this. We made a difference (on behalf of the program), which is really cool.”
The PGA Jones Cup 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.
All participating universities in the PGA Jones Cup are schools accredited by the PGA of America to offer the PGA Golf Management University Program for aspiring PGA Professionals. There are currently over 1,700 students enrolled in the program nationwide.
Dr. S. Roland Jones
Methodist
Central Oklahoma
Penn State
Florida Gulf Coast
New Mexico State
Mississippi State
Clemson
UMES
EKU
UNLV
UCCS
Campbell
Coastal Carolina
Ferris State
Sam Houston State
Nebraska
NC State
University of Idaho
301-300-601
312-300-612
308-304-612
312-305-617
316-301-617
310-310-620
312-309-621
310-317-627
318-310-628
315-314-629
313-317-630
316-315-631
323-309-632
319-314-633
321-313-634
331-317-648
319-336-655
341-316-657
2019 PGA Jones Cup Leader Board
9