Grier Jones (born May 6, 1946) is a former college head golf coach and former PGA Tour professional golfer.
Early life Jones was born, raised and has been a lifelong resident of Wichita, Kansas. He attended Wichita's Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School where he played both football and golf. He won the 1963 and 1964 Kansas State High School golf championships.
Amateur career An All-American at Oklahoma State University, Jones won the Big Eight Championship in 1967 and 1968 before taking the individual medalist honors at the 1968 NCAA Championships. He also won the 1966 Kansas State Amateur Championship held in Topeka, Kansas while a student at Oklahoma State.
Professional career In 1968, Jones turned professional. He spent fourteen years on the PGA Tour, beginning in 1969, when he earned PGA Rookie of the Year honors. His career year was 1972 when he won two PGA Tour events and finished fourth on the final money list. He won his third and final PGA Tour event in 1977. Jones ended his career with 54 top-10 finishes in PGA Tour events. His best finish in a major championship was a T-16 at the 1978 PGA Championship.
After his full-time tour playing days ended, Jones took a club teaching job at Willowbend Golf Club in Wichita, while continuing to play part-time on Nike Tour and PGA Tours. Later he became the head pro at Terradyne Country Club in Wichita. In 1995, he was named men's head golf coach at Wichita State University where he remained until his retirement in 2019.
Personal life Jones is married to Janie. They have five children: Carey, Corey, Grier II, Brian, and daughter Casey.
Awards and honors In 1969, he earned PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors In 1995, Jones was honored as the Kansas Chapter PGA Teacher-of-the-Year. Jones was named Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year seven times: in 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010. In 2010, Jones was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
Amateur wins 1966 Kansas State Amateur 1967 Big Eight Championship 1968 Big Eight Championship, NCAA Championship
Professional wins (4) PGA Tour wins (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1 Feb 6, 1972 Hawaiian Open−14 (65-73-72-64=274)Playoff Bob Murphy2Sep 24, 1972Robinson's Fall Golf Classic−11 (66-72-67-68=273)Playoff Dave Marad3Nov 6, 1977 Walt Disney World National Team Championship(with Gibby Gilbert)−35 (62-64-61-66=253)1 stroke Steve Melnyk and Andy North
PGA Tour playoff record (2–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11972Hawaiian Open Bob MurphyWon with par on first extra hole21972Robinson's Fall Golf Classic Dave MaradWon with par on second extra hole Source:
Other wins (1) 1968 Oklahoma Open
Results in major championships Tournament196719681969Masters TournamentU.S. OpenCUTPGA Championship Tournament1970197119721973197419751976197719781979Masters TournamentT38T33T37U.S. OpenCUTT45T18T28T35PGA ChampionshipT41T53T51T32T30T25T16 Tournament19801981198219831984Masters TournamentU.S. OpenCUTPGA Championship Note: Jones never played in The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
See also Fall 1968 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 1983 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
References
External links
Terradyne Country Club official site