Keeping Up With Jones: Jr. Shines at Ocean Forest

Feb. 4, 2003

BY JAY A. COFFIN

Sea Island, GA – The Jones Cup quickly turned into Gregg Jones’ cup Feb. 2 at Ocean Forest Golf Club.

The 21-year-old junior from Clemson widened an overnight one-shot lead over Matt McQuillan and Brent Delahoussaye when he birdied four of the first five holes. Although Jones closed his round with consecutive bogeys it was still enough to win the second Jones Cup by two shots over Florida freshman James Vargas.

Jones shot 69-72-70 for a 5-under-par 211 total. Vargas shot 68, the low round of the day, and finished at 213. Delahoussaye and McQuillan both shot 73 and tied for third.

“I really didn’t have any expectations this week only because I haven’t played a lot,” Jones said. “I am pretty happy with this but it was a long day.”

Jones led by as many as five shots early on the back nine but Vargas, playing in the group ahead of Jones, closed to within two shots when he made birdie on the par-5 14th and Jones three-putted for a bogey 6.

But Vargas three-putted for bogey on the par-3 15th and Jones later hit his tee shot to 3 feet and converted the birdie putt to move ahead by four.

“I played solid,” Vargas, 18, said. “I hit a couple of loose shots and was able to get away with some.”

Early it appeared as if McQuillan and Delahoussaye would mount a charge but both faltered midway through the round and could never regain composure.

“I’m pretty pleased with the way I played this week,” said Delahoussaye, 21, a teammate of Jones at Clemson where he is a redshirt junior.

“I came in here with no expectations and end up tying for third. I wish I would have played a little bit better today, but Gregg played great and I would have had to shoot a low number to beat him.”