George C. Thomas Invitational: McCoy ahead after first round

By Jack Persons LOS ANGELES, Calif. (June 27, 2014) -- Mike McCoy has a lot of golf left at the George C. Thomas Invitational, but he's well on his way to successfully defending his title. McCoy, one of the nation's top mid-amateurs, fired a 5-under 66 at Los Angeles Country Club's North Course on Thursday and leads a loaded field in the Mid-Amateur Division by two strokes. Jeff Wilson and Kris Mikkelson both shot 3-under 68 and are tied for second. Stocker Cup winner John Sawin is 10 behind at 5-over 76. Trans-Miss Senior champion Jeff Burda leads the Senior Amateur Division by a single shot after a first round 71. Close behind are Bob Kain, and 2014 Senior Hall of Fame tournament winner Chip Lutz at 1-over 72. 2013 British Senior Amateur champion George Zahringer is four behind Burda at 75. The George C. Thomas Invitational is one of the nation's premier mid-amateur and senior amateur events. The format is 54 holes of stroke play, and play will continue on Friday and Saturday. For full results, follow the link below.