12/30/2019 4:34:00 PM | Men's Golf
ORLANDO – UTA sophomore golfer Kyle Cox capped his 2019 calendar on the highest of notes by claiming the prestigious Men's Orlando International Amateur Championship on Monday, running away from an elite global field to win by six shots at Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge.
Â
Cox posted rounds of 65-68-66 over three days at two different courses to finish at -15. He entered Monday's final round at -10 and in a tie for 2nd place one shot off the lead of Luke Gifford (-11), but a near-flawless 18 propelled him past everyone else in the field of 74 who made the 36-hole cut.
Â
A native of Carrollton, Texas, Cox opened with a seven-under 65 on the par-72 Crooked Cat course before signing for a 3-under 68 on the par-71 Panther Lake course on Sunday – the same layout he tamed on Monday en route to victory.
Â
"The course was playing tough today and eating a lot of guys up," Cox said. "To a certain extent I did know I was starting to pull away, and with live scoring every three holes I was able to adjust my game plan. I took my foot off the gas and started firing at the middle of greens and converting some easy pars."
Â
Cox added that anything better than those "easy" pars was a bonus on the back 9, and he got a lot of bonuses as he closed with three birdies and three pars over his final six holes to easily out-last Justin Tereshko and Paul Swindell, who both finished at -9 in a tie for 2nd place.
Â
The annual tournament features high-level amateur golfers from the United States and abroad. The field of 204 included many of the world's best amateur players, and while Cox entered on the fringe of the top 1,000 amateurs in the world, his official ranking of #1,130 will be lowered significantly with such a significant victory.
Â
"This is definitely my biggest win as an amateur and it's the best three rounds I've ever put together at this level," Cox re-enforced. "My game is in really strong shape right now. I switched my ball flight from a cut to a draw over the past few months, and I've been much more consistent off the tee, with my irons and my putting is starting to round into form as well."
Â
Cox will look to carry the momentum and success from this most recent performance into the spring season with his UTA teammates when he returns to campus in January and tees it back up again competitively in February.
Â
"It's all about feeding off this success and carrying the momentum into the spring season," Cox added. "Playing tournaments and events like this outside our traditional college season really helps me stay fresh and keeps me on my toes, and hopefully I can take this into the spring season."
Â
That spring season for he and the Mavericks will commence in mid-February at Houston's All-American Intercollegiate.
Â
FOLLOW THE MAVS SOCIALLY
For up-to-date news, photos and videos of the UTA men's golf program, follow us on Twitter:Â @UTAMavsMGolf, Instagram: @UTAMensMGolf and Facebook: /UTAMavsMGolf.
Â
THE NEW HOME OF UTA GOLF: Texas Rangers Golf Club
The recently-opened state-of-the-art Texas Rangers Golf Club is the new home of the UT Arlington's men's and women's golf programs. The world's only Major League Baseball-branded golf course, TRGC is the result of a $24 million renovation and updated routing of the former Chester W. Ditto Golf Course at Brown Boulevard and Collins Street, just a few miles north of UTA's campus. The Home of UTA Golf was designed by UTA alumni John Colligan and Trey Kemp of Arlington-based Colligan Golf Design. It features an expansive 23-acre practice area, and a new 33,871-square-foot clubhouse – set to open in early 2020 – will feature a full-service restaurant and bar, covered patio overlooking the golf course, pro shop, locker rooms and numerous rental and event spaces. For more information about TRGC, click here.
Â
Cox posted rounds of 65-68-66 over three days at two different courses to finish at -15. He entered Monday's final round at -10 and in a tie for 2nd place one shot off the lead of Luke Gifford (-11), but a near-flawless 18 propelled him past everyone else in the field of 74 who made the 36-hole cut.
Â
A native of Carrollton, Texas, Cox opened with a seven-under 65 on the par-72 Crooked Cat course before signing for a 3-under 68 on the par-71 Panther Lake course on Sunday – the same layout he tamed on Monday en route to victory.
Â
"The course was playing tough today and eating a lot of guys up," Cox said. "To a certain extent I did know I was starting to pull away, and with live scoring every three holes I was able to adjust my game plan. I took my foot off the gas and started firing at the middle of greens and converting some easy pars."
Â
Cox added that anything better than those "easy" pars was a bonus on the back 9, and he got a lot of bonuses as he closed with three birdies and three pars over his final six holes to easily out-last Justin Tereshko and Paul Swindell, who both finished at -9 in a tie for 2nd place.
Â
The annual tournament features high-level amateur golfers from the United States and abroad. The field of 204 included many of the world's best amateur players, and while Cox entered on the fringe of the top 1,000 amateurs in the world, his official ranking of #1,130 will be lowered significantly with such a significant victory.
Â
"This is definitely my biggest win as an amateur and it's the best three rounds I've ever put together at this level," Cox re-enforced. "My game is in really strong shape right now. I switched my ball flight from a cut to a draw over the past few months, and I've been much more consistent off the tee, with my irons and my putting is starting to round into form as well."
Â
Cox will look to carry the momentum and success from this most recent performance into the spring season with his UTA teammates when he returns to campus in January and tees it back up again competitively in February.
Â
"It's all about feeding off this success and carrying the momentum into the spring season," Cox added. "Playing tournaments and events like this outside our traditional college season really helps me stay fresh and keeps me on my toes, and hopefully I can take this into the spring season."
Â
That spring season for he and the Mavericks will commence in mid-February at Houston's All-American Intercollegiate.
Â
FOLLOW THE MAVS SOCIALLY
For up-to-date news, photos and videos of the UTA men's golf program, follow us on Twitter:Â @UTAMavsMGolf, Instagram: @UTAMensMGolf and Facebook: /UTAMavsMGolf.
Â
THE NEW HOME OF UTA GOLF: Texas Rangers Golf Club
The recently-opened state-of-the-art Texas Rangers Golf Club is the new home of the UT Arlington's men's and women's golf programs. The world's only Major League Baseball-branded golf course, TRGC is the result of a $24 million renovation and updated routing of the former Chester W. Ditto Golf Course at Brown Boulevard and Collins Street, just a few miles north of UTA's campus. The Home of UTA Golf was designed by UTA alumni John Colligan and Trey Kemp of Arlington-based Colligan Golf Design. It features an expansive 23-acre practice area, and a new 33,871-square-foot clubhouse – set to open in early 2020 – will feature a full-service restaurant and bar, covered patio overlooking the golf course, pro shop, locker rooms and numerous rental and event spaces. For more information about TRGC, click here.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
Tuesday, October 04
Wednesday, April 06
Wednesday, March 10
Thursday, November 05
