Howell High School’s Dawson Jones hits a tee shot during a match against Manalapan High School at Howell Park Golf Course in Farmingdale on April 24. Jones completed a Triple Crown this season, winning the Wall Invitational, Monmouth County Tournament and, most recently, the Shore Conference Tournament on April 28 at the Charleston Springs Golf Course South in Millstone Township. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR When Dawson Jones said it would take a low score to win the Shore Conference Golf Tournament (SCT), he knew what he was talking about. As if to prove his point, it was the Howell High School golfer who went lower than everyone else at the April 28 SCT held at the Charleston Springs Golf Course South in Millstone Township.
Jones’ 4-under-par 68 gave the Rebels’ junior his first SCT title and allowed him to complete the rare Monmouth County-Shore Conference double, which was done in a one-week span. He won the county championship at Hominy Hill in Colts Neck, where he shot a 3-under 69.
The victory also allowed him to complete the even rarer Triple Crown —Wall Invitational (held at Jumping Brook golf course this year), Monmouth County Tournament and SCT.
Jones is believed to be the first Shore Conference golfer to win all three of the tournaments in the same year. He is the first Freehold Regional High School District golfer to claim all three in a career, doing so in just one season.
“I wanted to win one of them,” he said. “To get all three makes me pretty happy. I didn’t expect that.”
Jones has been playing on a level above the rest this spring. It has all come together this year. After so many near misses in the three tournaments in his first two years, he has now won them all by becoming a better closer.
After all the miserable weather of April, the golfers had a near ideal day to compete. That made low scores even more likely.
“The conditions were great,” Jones said. “The course played short. The par-5s were gettable.
“You could be super-aggressive,” he continued. “You could use a driver on every hole.”
The par-5s were very gettable for Jones and his booming tee shots. He forged his 68 by playing the four par-5 holes in 3-under.
Jones missed just one green in regulation, and he consistently found the fairway with his booming drives. He had five birdies and just one bogey in his round, which saw him card 34s on the front and back nines.
With three straight tournament wins, Jones is obviously brimming with confidence as he looks ahead to defending his NJSIAA Central Jersey title on May 12 at the Linwood Country Club.
“I’m really happy with my performances this year,” he said. “Compared to last year, I’m competing better.
“I’m excited about the state sectional,” he added.
Jones pointed out that the Linwood course is tight, and driving accuracy is important.
The Howell golf team had a very good day itself at the SCT, as the Rebels took fourth place with a team score of 308 that “thrilled” head coach Tim Hogan.
“It was amazing,” he said. “I never expected that. I was hoping to be around 320. “It’s the best score we’ve ever put up in the Shore Conference, and we’ve won it,” he added.
Jones said that his teammates “showed what they can do.”
Joe Auci and Noah Sloane each carded 79s, and Mike Stefanelli shot an 82.
Stefanelli was eligible for the individual competition from his placing at the Monmouth County Tournament, and he finished 38th.
With a 10-1 dual meet record, Howell has qualified for the Central Jersey tournament as a team.
With no seniors on the team, this was supposed to be a learning year for the young Rebels. It’s safe to say they are a year ahead of schedule.