Fields leads at Jones Cup

SEA ISLAND, Georgia (Feb. 4, 2011) -- Jack Fields, of the University of North Carolina was the only player under par Friday at Ocean Forest Golf Club and took the early lead at the Jones Cup. Despite a double-bogey at the par-4 12th, Fields turned in a 2-under 70 to lead by two shots after Round 1. In addition to a strong college resume that includes being selected to the All-ACC golf team, fields is a top performer in Carolinas Golf Association events - he captured the Carolinas Golf Association Amateur. Tied for second at 1-over 73 are Ole Miss senior Jonathan Randolph, 2009 Walker Cupper Bud Cauley and a pair of junior golf standouts – Texas signee Jordan Spieth, No. 2 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Junior Rankings, and Stanford signee Patrick Rodgers (No. 8). Spieth was leading the tournament for much of Round 1, but was done in by a bumpy closing stretch that saw him play the final four holes in 4 over. Sitting in sixth place is 2009 U.S. Public Links Champion Brad Benjamin (74), who is one shot ahead of a group of college stars at T-7 that includes defending champion Patrick Reed – a junior at Augusta State. Illinois’ Luke Guthrie, Ohio State’s Bo Hoag, Alabama’s Hunter Hamrick and Pepperdine’s Andrew Putnam also shot 75. Putnam is coming off a win at last week's Arizona Intercollegiate. U.S. Amateur champion Peter Uihlein, No. 1 in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com World Rankings, is tied for 49th after a 7-over 79.