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4/1/2009 - MEN'S GOLF
Jones III Claims Bears' First GOTM Since 2003
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MACON, Ga. - Buoyed by excellent play at the Linger Longer Invitational and a top-10 finish at the Seminole Intercollegiate, Mercer’s Bill Jones III earned his first Golfer of the Month - the first award won by a Bear since Jason Henley in September 2003.
Mercer has risen to its best ever national ranking this spring, thanks in large part to the outstanding play of Bill Jones III. Jones, a senior from Conyers, Ga., showed his quality at the Linger Longer Invitational, more than holding his own against the nation’s top-two teams (No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Oklahoma State) by earning a career-best second-place finish after shooting under par in each of the tournament’s three rounds. Sitting one-over and three shots off the lead with three holes to play, Jones birdied two of his final three holes, and just missed out on a 17th-hole birdie and an 18th-hole eagle: either of which would have forced a playoff with eventual winner Trent Whitekiller of OSU. He finished the tournament at seven-under-par, just one stroke behind Whitekiller.
Jones’ performance helped the Bears land fourth place at the Linger Longer Invitational: the team’s second-best finish of the season. Jones also landed a top-ten finish at the Seminole Intercollegiate, carding a 217 (+1) to earn a share of tenth place against a high-caliber field that included Florida State, Vanderbilt, Auburn, and No. 21 Arkansas.
All told, the business major earned two top-ten finishes in three events this month. The Linger Longer event concluded a stretch which saw Jones finish under-par in eight of his nine competitive rounds, landing three straight top-ten finishes in the process.
The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.
Other Top Performers
Seamus Power, ETSU (Jr. - Waterford, Ireland - Accounting) -- Won his third career individual title with a championship in the Larry Nelson Collegiate Invitational … Had three Top 10 finishes in three events, including a second place showing and first place effort … Posted six rounds of par or better, and fired three sub-70 rounds during March … posted a 71.5 stroke average for the month.
Tommy Parker, Stetson (Sr. - Palm Beach, Fla. - Finance) -- Parker shook off a disappointing 53rd place finish at the Grub Mart-Young Oil Intercollegiate at Jacksonville State earlier this month to help the Hatters pull off a shocking upset victory at the Larry Nelson Collegiate Invitational this week at Kennesaw State. Parker finished even par for 54 holes, buoyed by a four under par 67 in the second round, to tie ETSU’s Seamus Power (ranked 38th in the nation by GolfWeek.com) for medalist honors and lead Stetson to a +21 team score and its third championship of the year by one stroke over #29 ETSU and Murray State. Parker has improved his season stroke average to 73.3 and is tied for first on the team with junior Dave McAndrew.
