As Jimmy Jones signed his scorecard Monday at Gorge Vale, a 68 that qualified him for the Bayview Place DC Bank Open presented by the Times Colonist, the score recorder said: “Your mom would have been proud of you.”

Jones quietly nodded in agreement: “She would have been proud, for sure.”

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Jones can’t escape the shadow of his mother on the Island, nor does he want to.

The 22-year-old out of the University of South Florida is in the midst of a deeply poignant Island homecoming. The dual citizen turned pro last week by making the cut at the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada opening tournament, the Freedom 55 Financial Open at Point Grey in Vancouver, and is now two-for-two.

Jones is the son of the late Dawn Coe-Jones, who came out of Lake Cowichan to become one of the greatest Canadian golfers of all-time. Coe-Jones died of bone cancer in 2016 at age 56 after becoming the first Canadian female golfer to reach the $1 million US plateau in earnings, finishing with more than $3.3 million on the LPGA Pro Tour from 1983 to 2008, and winning three LPGA tournaments and placing in the top-10 on 44 occasions. She represented Canada with class and distinction and was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2003, the B.C. Golf Hall of Fame in 2011 and the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

“She was a hero to me and it’s heartwarming, the reception I am getting here,” said her son.

“I am so proud of what she accomplished. I am proud that I have such big shoes to fill back on her home Island this week. She paved the way for me, and to be playing here on the Island, means so much.”

Coe-Jones was based in Florida during her pro career, but the family returned to the Island each summer for the annual namesake junior golf tournament she hosted at her home March Meadows club west of Duncan. The family recently sold its home on Lake Cowichan, so Jimmy will make an emotional final visit to it over the Malahat this week before the opening round of the Bayview Place DC Bank Open on Thursday at Uplands.

“Lake Cowichan feels like home,” he said.

Caddying on Monday for his son was dad Jim Jones.

“We feel Dawn is always with us,” said Jim Jones, a former NCAA baseball player for the Florida State Seminoles, who was offered a minor-league pro contract by the Philadelphia Phillies.

“Dawn made [son] Jimmy promise he would play as a Canadian, with a Maple Leaf next to his name.”

Asked what was the greatest golf lesson he learned from his mom, the younger Jones answered: “She taught me patience.”

That attribute came in handy Monday as he was 1-over through six holes before rallying for an outstanding four-under round to capture one of the 10 qualifying spots into the Bayview Place DC Bank Open.

Also qualifying to join the 156-golfer field Thursday through Sunday at Uplands were Taylor Funk, Thomas Bass, Carson Jacobs, Joseph Cooper, Nate Ollis, John Tomlinson, George Bryan IV, Andrew Funk and Nigel Lett. Taylor Funk won the event with a 67, while Bass and Jones had 68s and Jacobs and Cooper 69s.

Meanwhile, PGA Tour Champions veteran Jim Rutledge of Victoria captured the third and final exemption into the Bayview Place Open through the Vikes Performance Tour, a 12-event tour that ended with the final two rounds Saturday and Sunday at Cordova Bay. Taking the first two slots are teaching pro Eric Wang of Blenkinsop Golf Centre and amateur Kevin Carrigan of Royal Colwood.

There are six overall sponsors exemptions into the Bayview Place DC Bank Open with the other three going to Brent Wilson of Gorge Vale, who placed a close fourth in the Vikes Performance Tour, Darren Day Jr. of Royal Colwood and Uplands club champion Jake DuVall.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com

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