BYU’s Jones takes lead at Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational at Silverado
Cooper Jones of Brigham Young University began the inaugural Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational at Silverado Resort and Spa on Monday with rounds of 69 and 67 on the North Course and will take a three-shot lead into today’s final round.
Jones is at 8-under-par 136 through 36 holes.
In second place is Bradley Sawka of Connecticut, 70–69–139, and Ting-Wei Hsieh of Sam Houston, 65–74–139.
In fourth place is Gregory Odom of Howard University, 72–68–140.
In fifth place is Ashton McCulloch of Michigan State, 72–69–141.
BYU also leads in the team scoring after posting rounds of 280 and 285. The Cougars are at 11-under-par 565.
BYU takes an 11-shot lead into the final round. In second place is Sam Houston, 282–294–576; in third is North Alabama, 287–297–584; in fourth is Michigan State, 296–289–585; and tied for fifth is Nihon, 292–295–587, and Elon, 287–300–587.
BYU’s coach is Todd Miller, a Justin-Siena High School graduate and a former Napa resident. Miller, the Cougars’ Director of Golf, played his junior golf at Silverado.
“Today was the first time my game has felt good in a while,” Jones said, in a report, at byucougars.com. “I made some putts and didn’t miss a lot of greens, so it was easy not to make any mistakes. The golf course is great, and it is fun to be out where Coach (Todd) Miller grew up playing. We will get some rest and get after it again tomorrow.”
Miller is the son of World Golf Hall of Fame member and 25-time PGA Tour champion, Johnny Miller, who retired in 2019 after 29 years as the lead golf analyst for NBC Sports. Johnny Miller played out of Silverado during his PGA Tour career and is a two-time major champion.
Four players from BYU are in the top-15 after 36 holes.
Besides Jones, there is Peter Kim, sixth at 71–71–142; Zac Jones, 70–73–143; and Max Brenchley, 70–74–144.
There are 11 teams in the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational, a three-day, 54-hole college golf event that has top-level NCAA Division I men’s programs and HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) schools as well as high-ranking individual golfers from underrepresented communities, the PGA Tour’s Pathway to Progression announced.
Silverado’s North Course is a par-72, 6,988-yard layout.
The Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational, according to a press release, is a competitive element of the Bridgestone Collegiate Development Program. It’s both a team and individual event, and is held in collaboration with the Golf Coaches Association of America.
There were 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. shotgun starts on Monday.
Players started Tuesday’s final round from the Nos. 1 and 10 tees at 9:30 a.m.
The individual winner earns an exemption into a 2024 Korn Ferry Tour event, to be announced at a later date.
“The PGA Tour is thrilled to partner with the Golf Coaches Association of America in this exciting new opportunity for collegiate golfers from diverse backgrounds,” Kenyatta Ramsey, PGA Tour Vice President, Player Development, said in a report, at www.pgatour.com. “The Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational will soon welcome some of the top individuals and teams from underrepresented communities to Silverado Resort, and we could not be more appreciative of Bridgestone and the GCAA in helping to make this event a reality.”
The Bridgestone Collegiate Development Program, according to a report, “is dedicated to enhancing competitive and mentorship opportunities for golfers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and underrepresented communities. Additionally, it offers tangible career development opportunities for both players and coaches. Among its initiatives are the Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking, the HBCU Coaches Summit presented by Bridgestone, the Pathway to Progression HBCU Performance Day presented by Bridgestone and two new collegiate golf tournaments — the Bridgestone HBCU Invitational and the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational.”
Caitlyn Ranson, Head of Partnerships, Bridgestone Americas, said in a report, at www.pgatour.com:
“Last year, we launched the Bridgestone Collegiate Development Program to help build a stronger, more inclusive golf community both on and off the course. It’s exciting to see that impact taking shape at this year’s Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational, where our first-ever Bridgestone HBCU Invitational winners will be competing against some of the highest-ranked players in the sport. We congratulate and thank these teams for helping us create more equitable access to opportunity, in golf and beyond, for generations to come.”
The PGA Tour’s Pathway to Progression, founded in March of 2023, “aims to support the identification and development of junior and collegiate golfers from historically underrepresented communities. Now in its third year, the Collegiate Ranking, in partnership with the APGA Tour, provides transitional support for the top five Black senior collegiate golfers as they begin their professional golf careers,” it was reported, at www.pgatour.com.
Dustin Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, GCAA, said, in a report, at www.pgatour.com:
“The GCAA is proud to partner with the PGA Tour’s Pathway to Progression program and tournament co-host Central Michigan University to host the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational. The opportunity to support Central Michigan’s Kevin Jennings — one of two Division I Black head golf coaches not at an HBCU — and provide quality competition between HBCU and non-HBCU golf programs is important to the Association. We look forward to working with our partners to grow the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational into one of the most impactful tournaments on the college schedule.”
