Jones Cup underway in Georgia

The 2013 Jones Cup tees off at Ocean Forest Golf Club Friday, kicking off the year's first Major of amateurgolf.com. The event, which is in its ninth year, features a field made of the top amateurs in the world --- including many Walker Cup hopefuls. Defending champion Justin Thomas leads a loaded field that will also include his Alabama teammate and the top-ranked player in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com World Rankings, Bobby Wyatt. Other top amateurs and major winners from the last year will also be part of the impressive field, including Steven Fox (U.S. Amateur), Peter Williamson (Southern Amateur, North/South Amateur) and Richy Werenski (Porter Cup). Other top players include Matthew NeSmith (No. 11 in U.S.), Chase Seiffert (Oglethorpe Invitational), Kevin Marsh (Calif. Am, Stocker Cup, Carlton Woods), Cory Whitsett (No. 22 in U.S.), Ben Geyer (NCGA Player of Year), Jim Liu (No. 2 Junior), Nathan Smith (4-time U.S. Mid-Am winner), Curtis Thompson and Daniel Berger, the last two winners of the Dixie Amateur. Beginning in 2001, the Jones Cup Invitational annually attracts the op amateurs from the U.S. and abroad for its three-day stroke-play competition. Past winners include Kyle Stanely, John Peterson and D.J. Trahan. PGA Tour stars Luke Donald, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Gary Woodland and Bubba Watson have also participated in the event.