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Jones feels right at home in Corning
CORNING, N.Y. -- She doesn't wear a tiara or ride in a convertible during parades, but Rosie Jones is the queen of the LPGA Corning Classic. Over the past 18 years, fans in the Crystal City have fallen in love with the 41-year-old's hard-nosed, energetic style. Corning has provided many fond memories for Jones. But it is also the site of one really sad moment. Her fondness for this little town nestled in the Finger Lakes Region started to grow way before she became the tournament's only back-to-back champion in 1996 and '97.
At the time, Jones was in just her fourth year on tour and had yet to win an event. But that didn't matter to tournament director Lee Robbins. He treated her as if she was a Hall of Famer. Besides offering his condolences, he summoned the sponsor company's private jet to fly Jones wherever she needed. "I will always play Corning because of what Lee Robbins and the people of this tournament did for me," said Jones, who has never skipped a Memorial Day weekend in New York. "Since then I have won twice and had a lot of great finishes. As much as it's a given that I am coming here to play, I always have a great feeling about playing here." That feeling can be seen on the scoreboard. Besides winning the Classic twice, the two-time Solheim Cup team member has 10 top-10 finishes here, including a fourth place this past weekend. In 15 years of playing at cozy Corning Country Club, where golfers come back to the clubhouse six times during any round, Jones has only missed one cut and has earned $408,476. The explanation for her stellar play is the warmth of the galleries. Jones says she can feel their excitement every time they call her name on the first tee. However, the short-hitting but always accurate Jones also admits that the tree-lined, tight course doesn't hurt either. "Sometimes you just jibe with a golf course," Jones said. "I could play this course backward and play well." She proved it Sunday by vaulting up the leaderboard in short order. Beginning the final round five strokes behind leader Mhairi McKay, Jones started off 3 under after two holes thanks to an eagle on No. 2. True to form, she didn't let up, proceeding to birdie three of the next four holes. Jones played the first six holes in 6 under, and suddenly she was tied for the lead. She gave the leaders a bit of a scare, but ultimately finished tied for fourth, three shots behind winner Carin Koch. "I tried to put some pressure on Mhairi before she even started," said Jones. "It's kind of fun to do that. But it really was an up-and-down kind of day. I felt like it could have been a lot better. A lot of shots I can usually take advantage of, I didn't." At 5-feet-7 and 110 pounds soaking wet, it's astonishing that Jones has racked up 11 career victories and is No. 12 on the all-time money list. She is proof positive that grit and determination can go a long way. "I have always had a lot of belief in myself," Jones said. "First and foremost, I have always believed that I could play out here -- and no on has been able to tell me that I can't." Tom Hanson, a regular contributor to Sports Illustrated's Golf Plus section,
is a longtime caddie on the LPGA Tour. Click here
to send him a question or comment.
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