Jones excelled as an amateur, winning the Australian Amateur title in 1999 (beating Kiwi Mahal Pearce in the final). He also represented Australia in the team that finished 2nd in the 1998 Eisenhower Trophy. The popular Australian turned Pro in 1999 and has won an incredible 15 times on the Japan Tour, including one victory in 2019 at the Token Homemate Cup in Nagoya.
The Canberra-based golfer fell in love with golf in Queenstown, becoming a regular at Millbrook from the get-go of its current format, but it took until his 48th birthday celebration for the likable Aussie to get his hands on the Brodie Breeze Trophy in 2023 with a memorable victory.
In fact, he had toyed with retirement during the Covid times, when he stored his golf clubs away but returned better than before and reinvigorated with his game and the sport.
Jones’ record at the New Zealand Open has not been as good as his international record suggests it might be, but he has still recorded several very low rounds at both The Hills and Millbrook and he will take his place in the field as very much a player to watch.
Check out the final round highlights from Jones’ victory at the 2023 New Zealand Open
