Peterhead player leads Scots in Jones Cup Invitational

Patrick Reed (left), winner of the Jones Cup Invitational after a play-off, and (right) Philip McLean who did well to finish joint 11th at Sea Island, Georgia. Both images by Cal Carson Golf Agency. Click on them to enlarge.

Philip McLean finishes joint 11th in Georgia

Peterhead’s Philip McLean, the first-round leader with a 69 and joint fifth after 36 holes, eventually finished joint 11th in the world-class amateur field for the Jones Cup Invitational tournament over three rounds at Ocean Forest Golf Club, Sea Island, Georgia today (Sunday).
McLean, a member of the Paul Lawrie's Foundation-backed team, can be proud of the fact that he was the only player to break 70 over the par-72, windswept course of 7,321yd.
He had several highly-rated players from the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings behind his final total of 12-over-par 228 with subsequent rounds of 81 and 78 after his brilliant opening effort which put him clear of the field.
The Buchan man finished only six shots behind the two players who met in a play-off for the title, won by American Patrick Reed who won the R&A Junior Open at Heswall four years ago.
Winner of the Leven Gold Medal and beaten in a play-off for the Scottish champion of champions title, also over the Fife links last year, North-east Alliance champion McLean has played for Scotland at youth international level but he has yet to win a full cap. It should certainly come this year.
Next best Scots were Stirling University student James White (Lundin) and Ross Kellett ( Colville Park ) on 234. White had ever-improving rounds of 81, 78 and 75. Kellett saved his best for last – a 73 after Friday-Saturday scores of 79 and 82.
The last of the four Scots was Steven McEwan (Caprington) with scores of 85, 82 and 78 for 245.
Scottish boys and men’s match-play champion David Law (Hazlehead) would have played in the event but for receiving a broken knuckle when assaulted in an Aberdeen city centre street back in November. The injury has been slow to heal. Law was a member of the Scottish Golf Union party who went to Florida first for training and practice and then on to Georgia but is still unable to hit shots.
The leading British finisher in the Jones Cup Invitational was English teenager Tom Lewis, winner of the British boys’ championship last year. He tied for eighth place on 227 – one shot ahead of McLean – with rounds of 75, 76 and 76.
American Patrick Reed, a sophomore student at Augusta State University (he was originally a student at the University of Georgia), was the winner of the prestigious title, beating Frenchman Victor Dubuisson from Mougins, at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off.
They had tied on 222, Reed with rounds of 72, 76 and 74, Dubuisson with scores of 78 70 and 74.

With five holes left of regulation play, Dubuisson led the field by three shots before bogeys at 15, 17 and 18 brought him back to the field.

Reed meanwhile remained steady, parring the last six holes to get into the play-off with Dubuisson. Reed parred the first play-off hole to win the championship. Two years ago, he was beaten by New Zealander Danny Lee in the semi-finals of the US amateur championship. Lee went on to win the title.
University of Auburn sophomore Blayne Barber, the leader after 36 holes, finished the final day with a 76, leaving him at a total of 223 in third place. Reigning US amateur champion Byeong-Hun An finished fourth.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72) 7,321yd
Players from US unless stated
222 Victor Dubuisson(Fra) 78 70 74, Patrick Reed 72 76 74 (Reed won sudden-death play-off at first hole).
223 Blayne Barber 73 74 76.
224 Byeong-Hun An 75 78 71.
225 Bobby Wyatt 75 76 74.
226 Nathan Smith 75 78 73, Matt Nagy 71 81 74.
227 Brinson Paolini 76 75 76, Harris English 75 77 75, Tom Lewis (Eng) 75 76 76.
228 Philip McLean (Sco) 69 81 78, Henrik Norlander 72 80 76, Hunter Hamrick 73 75 79..
229 Kyle Kopsok 78 78 73, Alexander Knappe 76 79 74,
230 Brad Benjamin 79 77 74, Romain Wattel (Fra) 71 80 79, John Hahn 76 76 78, Zach Barlow 80 72 78.
231 Dustin Garza 79 78 74, Mike McCoy 79 77 75, John Murphy 81 74 76, Bud Cauley 74 76 81, Adam Long 78 74 79, .
232 Patrick Rada 81 75 76, Jeff Knox 79 75 78, Scott Langley 83 73 76, Kevin Marsh 76 70 80, Cory Whitsett 76 79 77.
233 Bank Vongvanij 77 80 76, Patrick Cantlay 77 78 78, David Holmes 77 78 78, Bryden MacPherson 75 80 78, Anthony Paolucci 76 78 79, Stiggy Hodgson (Eng) 83 70 80, Nuno Henriques 80 73 80.
234 James White (Sco) 81 78 75, James Frazer (Wal) 77 81 76, Sean Dale 82 77 75, Ross Kellett (Sco) 79 82 73 (36-37), Sean Dale 82 77 75,
235 Zack Fischer 78 78 79, Tripp Davis 77 80 78, Stephan Jaeger 80 77 78, Chesson Hadley 80 74 81, Matt Hill 78 75 82, Stephan Jaeger 80 77 78, Michael Morrison 79 76 80, James Robinson (Eng) 77 84 74.
236 Brendan Gielow 81 80 75, Darren Renwick (Eng) 79 74 83, Chan Kim 86 80 70.
237 Jamie Abbott (Eng) 77 82 78, Tommy Mou 77 81 79, Brad Revell 78 81 78, Drew Kittleson 76 81 80, Kevin Phelan 84 78 75.
239 Billy Hemstock (Eng) 79 81 79, Chris Paisley (Eng) 77 81 81, Oliver Schneiderjans 82 75 82, George Bryan 72 82 85, T J Mitchell 91 76 72.
241 Oliver Farr (Wal) 82 80 79, Alex Martin 76 86 79.
242 Joe Vickery (Wal) 83 80 79, Ben Kohles 79 85 78.
243 Julian Suri 86 78 79.
244 Robert Gerwiu 83 77 84, Russell Henley 77 87 80, Allen John 84 85 75.
245 Corey Nagy 80 82 83, Kevin O’Connell 81 81 83, Steven McEwan (Sco) 85 82 78 (37-41).
246 Gator Todd 82 84 80.
248 Robin Wingardh 84 82 82.
249 Mitch Krywulycz 83 79 87.
251 Matt Broome 83 83 85, Scott McAlpine 80 92 79.
252 Wesley Bryan 78 89 85.
253 Sebastian Kannler 88 80 85.
254 Michael barbosa 89 84 81.
287 Tanner Smith 89 106 92.
Withdrew: Gene Elliott, Randy Haag, Dodge Kemmer.