CINCINNATI, OH – It wasn’t a swing change or a hot putter that brought Jared Jones back to the top. It was something quieter, older, worn smooth like the grooves on his favorite wedge. It was time.

Time away from home. Time down in Texas where the sun burned a little brighter and the fairways went from foreign to familiar. Time to navigate the highs and lows of playing with the world’s best on the PGA Tour and in PGA Championships, where measurements against pros without day jobs can feel unfair, at best.

But through the passing of time–golfers know this next part better than anyone–comes the comfort in the simple familiarity of the game. You have to peg it on the first tee and that process is the same at every club or course or tournament or competition.

So here he was again. Back in Ohio. Back where the summer air felt a lot like Houston, unfortunately. And back to playing genuinely great golf.

When Jones walked onto the first tee Monday morning carrying not just his bag, but a little momentum. A T4 at the Queen City Classic. A T6 at the Summer Pro-Pro. Nowadays, that’s called trending. Golfers always call it “close” and everyone knew it.

65. No bogeys. Two birdies to close. One shot better than the rest.

Michael Auterson tried his best, again, to mount a courageous challenge. We’re used to seeing that from him, especially in 2025. There are a bunch of Top 5’s next to Michael’s name this season so it wasn’t a surprise to see circles on his scorecard to close out a special round. Four straight birdies and a 66 into the clubhouse.

But the day belonged to Jones. It had to.

It had been ten years since his last Section win. Country Club of the North, 2015. The Assistant Professional Championship. A few hairlines ago, for everyone. He beat a young Wake Forest alum named Chris Yoder that day. Now Yoder’s his coworker at Scioto Country Club. There’s that day job again, with colleagues-turned-friends making those long summer days go by a little faster. Too quick, as we get older.

A lot has changed since then. A few zip codes and some life experiences.

But one thing hadn’t changed: the game that gives more than it takes, even though it always takes time to see it that way, made Monday a good day.

Nineteen pros shot under par at Clovernook. Fourteen were within four strokes of the lead. They all wanted it. Jones grabbed it.

The SOPGA season rolls on, to Dayton Country Club for the SOPGA Stableford Championship. But everyone is looking ahead to Miami Valley Golf Club and the SOPGA Section Championship where there’s great golf waiting. Ben Kern’s playing well. Jon McDonald’s playing well. Bob Sowards is Bob Sowards. Sam Arnold is Sam Arnold.

Jared Jones will be there. No longer just trending.

He’s back.

Game on.

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For The Southern Ohio PGA by Brett Hiltbrand