Maize golfer wants to soak up experience playing vs. pros in Wichita tournament

One of Wichita’s brightest and youngest stars will compete against a field of more than 130 professional women’s golfers when the Heritage Classic tees off this week at Rolling Hills Country Club.

Kinslea Jones, a 17-year-old senior at Maize, was awarded a sponsor’s exemption in the tournament on the Women’s All Pro Tour, which is a third-tier tour featuring many recent college graduates with aspirations of playing on the LPGA Tour.

It might not be long until Jones, a three-time reigning high school state champion who is committed to Kansas, chases her own professional dream, so she is soaking up the experience. She tees off at 12:40 p.m. when Round 1 of the 72-hole tournament, which is free to attend for the public, begins on Thursday.

“I play competitively all summer, but this is a different level playing against women who are going to someday be on the LPGA,” Jones said. “It’s crazy to me that this is what they do all day every day, so they are golfers to look up to and see how they’re doing it. To me, (becoming a pro) seems so far away right now and they’re already on that level. So it’s going to be a really cool experience to be able to play with them.”

Jones, the granddaughter of Wichita golfing legend Grier Jones, is currently one of the top junior girls golfers in Kansas.

Not only has she won three straight KSHSAA titles, Jones recently tied for fourth overall at the Kansas Women’s Amateur and finished third in U.S. Girls Junior qualifying. This past season at Maize, she carried a state-best scoring average of 68.3 strokes.

But the course this week will play significantly longer than a high school tournament, which Jones has factored into her expectations.

“I just want to go out there and do my best and see where that puts me,” Jones said. “It’s definitely going to be a learning experience and a fun week. Regardless of where I end up, I think I’m definitely going to gain something by the end of the week.”

Wichita marks the final stop of the season for the Women’s All Pro Tour, which has attracted 17 of the top-20 golfers in the season-long standings, including points leader Alison Muirhead.

And it’s no coincidence the WAPT will end at Rolling Hills for the third straight year.

The west-side Wichita course is the birthplace of the LPGA Tour, which was founded following the 1950 U.S. Open Championship hosted at Rolling Hills by champion Babe Zaharias and 12 other competitors.

“Those courageous and determined 13 founders put their blood, sweat and tears into creating a path for women to be noticed for their skill, creativity and competitiveness,” said tournament director David Guy in a statement.