It had been almost 2 1/2 years since Steve Jones’ last round in a PGA Tour-sanctioned championship, but you’d have never known it by how he broke from the gate in Friday’s opening round of the PGA Tour Champions’ Toshiba Classic in Newport Beach, Calif.
The former University of Colorado golfer, winner of the 1996 U.S. Open, birdied his first three holes en route to a 3-under-par 68 Friday, which left him tied for ninth place after the first round.
Jones (pictured), an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour and a Colorado Sports Hall of Famer, made four birdies and one bogey in round 1 and trails leader Tom Pernice Jr., by four shots.
Jones, a 59-year-old who’s been plagued by injuries and ailments in his career, is playing in just his 62nd PGA Tour Champions event ever. It’s his first start this same tournament at the beginning of November 2015. Jones’ best finish in a PGA Tour Champions event is a ninth in the 2015 Senior PGA Championship.
Elsewhere in tour golf:
Gilman Runner-up on Golden State Tour: Former University of Denver golfer Chris Gilman recorded his fourth top-10 finish in the last five Golden State Tour events by tying for second Friday in the Q-School Shootout in Santee, Calif.
Gilman posted scores of 70-69 for a 5-under-par 139 total, which left him three strokes behind champion Cody Blick of Alamo, Calif.
Gilman, a regular on the Web.com Tour in 2015, won the Moorpark Classic on the Golden State Tour last month.
