M.J. Maguire takes early lead at Dogwood

ATLANTA, Ga. (June 27, 2012) -- The first round of the Dogwood Invitational concluded Wednesday with a score of 66 by M.J. Maquire, a freshman at the University of North Florida who qualified on Monday. Oliver Schniederjans, a sophomore at Georgia Tech and Carlton Forrester, a Georgia Tech senior tied for second with a 67. Maguire's 6 comprised of eight birdies, two bogeys, while it was his stellar short game that kept him in the lead. Following one shot out of third place was Georgia senior T.J. Mitchell and Scott Wolfes, a freshman at Georgia Southern, who both shot 68. Tournament play will resume Thursday at 8 a.m. ET at the Druid Hills Golf Club. Some of the best collegians in recent years have played in the Dogwood, including Charles Howell III, Bryce Molder, Adam Scott, Stewart Cink, Ryuji Imada, Carl Petterson, Justin Bolli, Nick Cassini, James Driscoll, Colt Knost and Dustin Johnson, all of whom have gone on to the professional level of the game. The 2007 winner, Wake Forest’s Webb Simpson also set the standing course record of 60. In the past decade the golf course at Druid Hills has enjoyed many refinements and enhancements, providing an ever more challenging site for the Dogwood Invitational. It is ranked as having one of the best fields among amateur tournaments in the world. In hosting the Dogwood Invitational, Druid Hills’ members extend their support for amateur golf that reaches back to the best amateur ever to have played the game, Bobby Jones. The next Bobby Jones may someday stroll the fairways at Druid Hills while competing in the Dogwood Invitational.