After winning the event in 2003 and 2004, Jones has been runner-up three times since then. But Tuesday he showed the field of 131 fellow competitors that he means business this year.

Using four birdies and no bogies, he led all players with a 66, three shots ahead of four players at 69. Leading the way at that number is Augusta home clubber Ryan Gay, a three-time champion himself. Joining Gay in second are Martindale's Brian Bilodeau -- who missed last year's championship to compete in the USGA Pub Links -- and fellow Sable Oaks members Tommy Stirling and Mike O'Brien.

Jones played in the first group of the second wave of players and never looked back as he played virtually error-free golf.

It was a very tight field with nearly 60 players shooting between 76 and 78. If scores don't spread out tomorrow, a whole slew of players could make the cut, which will include the low 40 players and ties for Thusday's final round.

The day kicked off under mostly cloudy but dry skies. Defending champion Seth Sweet was joined in the day's first group by defending MSGA Senior champ Mark Plummer and defending MSGA Mid-Amateur champ Ashley Fifield.

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