Newly elected PBA Hall of Famer Tommy Jones in contention at 2019 U.S. Open
October 27, 2019
Standings
MOORESVILLE, N.C. - In the last 12 months, Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, South Carolina, announced his retirement from Team USA, proved he still could win by claiming his 19th career Professional Bowlers Association Tour title and then found out he was elected to the PBA Hall of Fame.
In most sports, that would be a logical sequence of events, but it also would signify that his professional career was complete. In bowling, that's misleadingly not the case.
At 40 years old, Jones is far from ready to take off his bowling shoes, and he's at the 2019 U.S. Open this week in search of his third major title.
Through two rounds of qualifying at Victory Lanes, he was averaging more than 204 and 25th among the 144 competitors.
Unlike 15 years ago, his experience at the prestigious event has him calm and focused, knowing that one mistake or bad game over 24 games of qualifying shouldn't be a reason to panic. At the same time, his experience at the event and the memory of how it felt to slip on the coveted green jacket given to U.S. Open champions, keep him laser-focused on each delivery and spare attempt.
"The year I won (2006), I didn't think I was even ready to compete at the U.S. Open, especially since I felt like my performance the year before cost me player of the year," Jones said. "To come back the next year and win was incredibly special. Since then, I've learned to approach it with more patience than any other event, because there's going to be many ups and downs."
Along with his win at the U.S. Open, Jones also has hoisted the trophy at the PBA Tournament of Champions. That win in 2007 also gave him the record for the shortest time between the first and 10th career titles, a mark he reached in two years, six months and seven days.
Add in that he's one of five players in history to be named PBA Rookie of the Year (2001-2002) and PBA Player of the Year (2005-2006), and it would be hard to argue against Jones being elected to the PBA Hall of Fame as soon as he became age-eligible.
"It's pretty cool to know that growing up, all I wanted to do was bowl on the PBA Tour, and I've been able to do it for 20 years and have a pretty good career," Jones said. "It's been successful enough to get me into the hall of fame, and it means so much to be able to join the names of the amazing guys I grew up watching. It's a dream come true and something that hasn't hit me yet. I think it will finally hit me pretty hard when we're up there and they unveil the portrait and everything."
The 2020 induction ceremony will take place in January as part of the season-opening PBA Hall of Fame Classic in Arlington, Texas.
Jones intends to compete in that event and nearly everything else on the robust 2020 PBA Tour schedule. Being inducted into the hall of fame doesn't mean his career has burned down to the embers. In fact, his fire and desire to win are as bright as ever. But, just like his approach to the foul line and lane play have changed over the years, so has his life strategy.
"This really doesn't change anything for me competitively, and my schedule still is full with plenty of bowling," Jones said. "We're winding down this season with a couple more events, including the U.S. Open, and then we've got a full season of PBA Tour events starting in January. The schedule isn't getting slower, it's just different. My desire to win is still as strong, and I still want to keep adding to my resume and the list of announcements each time they introduce us."
Leaving Team USA after 11 appearances also wasn't so Jones could wind things down.
His daughter, Ella, now is 13 and very competitive in volleyball, so being home a little more, even for a few extra weekends a year, gives him more time to enjoy her activities and success.
Parenthood and two decades of Tour experience have helped Jones grow as a person, too, and he enjoys being able to serve as a mentor, both to Ella and to the next generation of PBA players.
Coaching also is something he's starting to enjoy and may be a bigger focus down the road. For now, he's OK with giving the occasional lesson and serving as a voice of reason on the PBA Tour.
"I try to pay it forward and take care of the younger guys and teach them some of the little things that may help them be better bowlers and professionals," Jones said. "If others didn't do that for me, I don't think I'd be the player or person I am today."
When Jones burst onto the scene almost 20 years ago, he was the young power player pushing veterans like Norm Duke, Parker Bohn III, Pete Weber, Walter Ray Williams Jr. and even his close friend Chris Barnes to stay sharp. His quick success definitely earned their attention and respect.
"For a decade we've all known that once Tommy was officially eligible, he'd be going into the hall of fame," Barnes said. "The 10 titles in two and a half years probably sealed it, but that was just the start of a pretty amazing career. He came out at 19 years old, and it didn't take him very long to find success. He still works very hard, and he's definitely not done yet. I still have some things I want to accomplish, and I know Tommy does, too."
Having a successful 2019 U.S. Open definitely is one of those goals for Jones, who said this week's event at Victory Lanes is the second- or third-shortest trip he's made for a PBA Tour stop.
Being less than two hours from home is allowing some friends and fans to see Jones in action for the first time.
"This is about the closest we've ever bowled to my house since I've been on Tour, so it's a little bit of a home game for me," Jones said. "Some friends who probably have never seen me bowl before are able to come watch, which is pretty neat. I know it's going to be a long and challenging week, and whether I've done it one time or 20 times, and we're bowling in Cancun or Las Vegas or right at home, I'm going to approach it the same. It's the U.S. Open, and it means a lot to me."
All competitors at the 2019 U.S. Open will bowl 24 games of qualifying over three days, with each day featuring a different lane condition.
After 24 games, which will conclude Sunday night, the field will be cut to the top 36 for an eight-game cashers' round on a fourth oil pattern. The top 24, based on their 32-game pinfall totals, will advance to round-robin match play. The 56-game totals, including bonus pins for each win in match play, will determine the five finalists.
CBS Sports Network will have live coverage of the stepladder finals on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. Eastern.
The U.S. Open is the final major championship on the 2019 PBA Tour schedule and is conducted jointly by the United States Bowling Congress and Bowling Proprietors' Association of America.
Each round of the 2019 U.S. Open, leading up to the championship round, is being broadcast live on BowlTV.com and simulcast on FloBowling.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. - In the last 12 months, Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, South Carolina, announced his retirement from Team USA, proved he still could win by claiming his 19th career Professional Bowlers Association Tour title and then found out he was elected to the PBA Hall of Fame.
In most sports, that would be a logical sequence of events, but it also would signify that his professional career was complete. In bowling, that's misleadingly not the case.
At 40 years old, Jones is far from ready to take off his bowling shoes, and he's at the 2019 U.S. Open this week in search of his third major title.
Through two rounds of qualifying at Victory Lanes, he was averaging more than 204 and 25th among the 144 competitors.
Unlike 15 years ago, his experience at the prestigious event has him calm and focused, knowing that one mistake or bad game over 24 games of qualifying shouldn't be a reason to panic. At the same time, his experience at the event and the memory of how it felt to slip on the coveted green jacket given to U.S. Open champions, keep him laser-focused on each delivery and spare attempt.
"The year I won (2006), I didn't think I was even ready to compete at the U.S. Open, especially since I felt like my performance the year before cost me player of the year," Jones said. "To come back the next year and win was incredibly special. Since then, I've learned to approach it with more patience than any other event, because there's going to be many ups and downs."
Along with his win at the U.S. Open, Jones also has hoisted the trophy at the PBA Tournament of Champions. That win in 2007 also gave him the record for the shortest time between the first and 10th career titles, a mark he reached in two years, six months and seven days.
Add in that he's one of five players in history to be named PBA Rookie of the Year (2001-2002) and PBA Player of the Year (2005-2006), and it would be hard to argue against Jones being elected to the PBA Hall of Fame as soon as he became age-eligible.
"It's pretty cool to know that growing up, all I wanted to do was bowl on the PBA Tour, and I've been able to do it for 20 years and have a pretty good career," Jones said. "It's been successful enough to get me into the hall of fame, and it means so much to be able to join the names of the amazing guys I grew up watching. It's a dream come true and something that hasn't hit me yet. I think it will finally hit me pretty hard when we're up there and they unveil the portrait and everything."
The 2020 induction ceremony will take place in January as part of the season-opening PBA Hall of Fame Classic in Arlington, Texas.
Jones intends to compete in that event and nearly everything else on the robust 2020 PBA Tour schedule. Being inducted into the hall of fame doesn't mean his career has burned down to the embers. In fact, his fire and desire to win are as bright as ever. But, just like his approach to the foul line and lane play have changed over the years, so has his life strategy.
"This really doesn't change anything for me competitively, and my schedule still is full with plenty of bowling," Jones said. "We're winding down this season with a couple more events, including the U.S. Open, and then we've got a full season of PBA Tour events starting in January. The schedule isn't getting slower, it's just different. My desire to win is still as strong, and I still want to keep adding to my resume and the list of announcements each time they introduce us."
Leaving Team USA after 11 appearances also wasn't so Jones could wind things down.
His daughter, Ella, now is 13 and very competitive in volleyball, so being home a little more, even for a few extra weekends a year, gives him more time to enjoy her activities and success.
Parenthood and two decades of Tour experience have helped Jones grow as a person, too, and he enjoys being able to serve as a mentor, both to Ella and to the next generation of PBA players.
Coaching also is something he's starting to enjoy and may be a bigger focus down the road. For now, he's OK with giving the occasional lesson and serving as a voice of reason on the PBA Tour.
"I try to pay it forward and take care of the younger guys and teach them some of the little things that may help them be better bowlers and professionals," Jones said. "If others didn't do that for me, I don't think I'd be the player or person I am today."
When Jones burst onto the scene almost 20 years ago, he was the young power player pushing veterans like Norm Duke, Parker Bohn III, Pete Weber, Walter Ray Williams Jr. and even his close friend Chris Barnes to stay sharp. His quick success definitely earned their attention and respect.
"For a decade we've all known that once Tommy was officially eligible, he'd be going into the hall of fame," Barnes said. "The 10 titles in two and a half years probably sealed it, but that was just the start of a pretty amazing career. He came out at 19 years old, and it didn't take him very long to find success. He still works very hard, and he's definitely not done yet. I still have some things I want to accomplish, and I know Tommy does, too."
Having a successful 2019 U.S. Open definitely is one of those goals for Jones, who said this week's event at Victory Lanes is the second- or third-shortest trip he's made for a PBA Tour stop.
Being less than two hours from home is allowing some friends and fans to see Jones in action for the first time.
"This is about the closest we've ever bowled to my house since I've been on Tour, so it's a little bit of a home game for me," Jones said. "Some friends who probably have never seen me bowl before are able to come watch, which is pretty neat. I know it's going to be a long and challenging week, and whether I've done it one time or 20 times, and we're bowling in Cancun or Las Vegas or right at home, I'm going to approach it the same. It's the U.S. Open, and it means a lot to me."
All competitors at the 2019 U.S. Open will bowl 24 games of qualifying over three days, with each day featuring a different lane condition.
After 24 games, which will conclude Sunday night, the field will be cut to the top 36 for an eight-game cashers' round on a fourth oil pattern. The top 24, based on their 32-game pinfall totals, will advance to round-robin match play. The 56-game totals, including bonus pins for each win in match play, will determine the five finalists.
CBS Sports Network will have live coverage of the stepladder finals on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. Eastern.
The U.S. Open is the final major championship on the 2019 PBA Tour schedule and is conducted jointly by the United States Bowling Congress and Bowling Proprietors' Association of America.
Each round of the 2019 U.S. Open, leading up to the championship round, is being broadcast live on BowlTV.com and simulcast on FloBowling.