Jones comes up big

Fremd sophomore Sean Jones had a taste of high school golf's good life as only a freshman.

The Vikings qualified as a team for last year's state finals in Bloomington by finishing third at the Class AA Buffalo Grove sectional, and to say Jones was a big part of that advancement was an understatement.

Sean shot an incredible round of 72 in a pressure-packed situation at Buffalo Grove Golf Club to finish just 2 shots off medalist honors and lead the team to the state tourney.

This season Jones, along with teammate Erik Peterson, will make the trip to state as individuals.

Jones shot 81 in breezy conditions at Tuesday's Hersey sectional at Old Orchard Country Club in Mount Prospect to advance.

"This was my season right here," said Jones of the sectional qualifying round. "I wanted to get back downstate with the best players and compete."

Fremd did not move on as a team this year but the competition at Old Orchard was fierce.

St. Viator won its ninth consecutive 2007 18-hole tournament to win the sectional while ESCC rival St. Patrick was close behind. Because of IHSA class expansion this year (from two classes to three), only two teams from each 3A sectional qualified.

Jones got some valuable experience at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington in 2006, firing a 2-day total of 170 in extreme weather conditions.

"Now I know what to expect," Jones said as the golfers played last year's tourney in cold temperatures and near gale-force winds, not uncommon for central Illinois in mid-October.

"You're talking about seven-hour rounds and 50-mile an hour winds," added the sophomore. "You don't find many courses like that one up here. There are a few links courses (around this area), but it's much different down there."

"Any day you play there it's going to be windy, and there's no trees to block the wind."

Jones began taking golf seriously at the age of 12, playing in some Illinois Junior Golf Association tournaments with the encouragement of his father Scott and mom Kathleen, both area educators.

Upon joining the team at Fremd, Jones wasn't sure what to expect.

"They told me that if I could shoot (consistently) under 80, I'd make varsity," said Jones of the summer before his freshman season. "All summer I was shooting 76 or 77."

He started on JV but quickly moved up to varsity in midseason, helping lead the Vikings' charge downstate.

Jones, a former wrestler with the Rosemont Cobras wrestling club, was given the nickname "Big Dog" last year by coach Dave Saxe despite his slight frame, but a growth spurt in 2007 made an impact.

"The biggest difference between this year and last year," said Jones, "is that I can hit the ball about 40 yards further. I grew 5 inches and gained 25 pounds, so now it's less of a scramble for me -- I can play more aggressively."

The bigger, stronger version of Sean Jones, who plans to play over the winter in Future College World Tour events in Florda and Arizona, looks forward to the meet in Bloomington along Peterson, a senior.

"The whole team looks up to Erik as a leader," Jones said. "He's experienced, as he's played in some big tournaments. I want to do what he's done -- play in national tournaments against some of the best players in the country."

"I wouldn't be going (downstate) if I didn't think I could win. I want to do my best and compete against the best."