ĢƵgolfer Tyler Jones swings during a tournament.
Cam AdamsApril 27, 2026

ĢƵmen’s golfer Tyler Jones leads team in historic season

ĢƵgolfer Tyler Jones looks on during a competition.

ĢƵ men’s golf coach Tim Eckberg believes things happen for a reason — and there was a reason he and his family vacationed at the beach last offseason. He caught word that Tyler Jones, a golfer from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, had entered the transfer portal. 

Eckberg immediately picked up the phone.

“It turns out the beach house we were staying at was about five minutes from a golf course he was playing a tournament at, so I just popped right over and we got to spend some time (together),” Eckberg said.

Jones later committed to the Catamounts, and this season, he’s been on a tear.

The redshirt sophomore has three tournament wins, has been named the Southern Conference golfer of the week four times and he leads the conference with a 70.24 scoring average, which stands just above the program record. 

In front of who? Oh, just PGA Tour golfer and ĢƵalumnus J.T. Poston.

“I'm doing everything pretty solid,” Jones said of his performance this season. “All of the tees have been really good. I've had a couple of tournaments where I haven't had any penalty shots where that's huge. 

“Hitting it good enough from the fairway into the green, and then when I miss the green, I'm able to get up and down, and I'm making enough putts.”

ĢƵgolfer Tyler Jones chats with his teammates.

Eckberg has enjoyed seeing his new transfer kill it on the golf course, calling him a “pitbull” in the way he carries himself. The 11th-year head coach says Jones runs with a fire in him, fending off adversity when it arises and moving on to what’s next.

Also, Jones’ short game is “completely filthy,” according to Eckberg. It’s what he thinks separates Jones from the rest of his competition in the SoCon.

“I'm kind of that sick mind that I enjoy when he gets into some trouble because it's fun to watch him get to show off some of those shots around the greens,” Eckberg said. “He doesn't beat himself, and when he gets into the mix, he's not going away. 

“It's just a fun, fun combination, a fun recipe to make a really good player.”

Jones hasn’t had a stretch like this in awhile — if ever. The Jacksonville native had a hot streak the summer before his senior year of high school, so it’s not new, but it also wasn’t like this. For the Catamounts, it’s been a season to remember, too.

ĢƵleads the SoCon with six podium finishes, claims half of the league’s individual medalist honors and holds a 109-41 record. That’s a big reason why Jones is having the success he’s had this season: his fellow Catamounts make him better.

“I definitely think it's the guys around me,” Jones said. “I definitely feel pushed everyday. We have so many good players, and they make me better. I mean, all of them. It's super cool how just any of us can beat any team, any given day, so you gotta bring it all every day. 

“If it's at practice, we're competing. I'm very competitive, so I want to beat all of them everyday, so that just makes me a whole lot better, and coach (Eckberg), obviously, he's a good player himself, so he knows what he's talking about.”

Tyler Jones stands with his teammates after a tournament win.

This week, Jones and the ĢƵmen’s golf team are hoping that will translate to Solina Golf Club in West Columbia, South Carolina, starting Monday. The Catamounts will be eyeing their first-ever SoCon title at the conference tournament, which will be wide open this year.

Six of the eight men’s golf-sponsoring league schools are ranked inside the top 150 nationally, including ĢƵat No. 123. 

Jones has definitely played a big part in the Catamounts’ success, but there’s a few more trophies he and his teammates would like to lift, starting with the SoCon championship.

“That's the main goal for right now at least, and make it to regionals, and then make a run,” Jones said. “I just want to see everybody play good. I feel like we haven't had a tournament like that this year where all five of us have our best, so we're due, as we say it. We're due.”

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