The accolades keep rolling in for Chattanooga Mocs senior Steven Fox (Hendersonville, Tenn.). He is the Southern Golf Association National Amateur of the Month for August the organization announced Tuesday.
“This is indeed an honor,” Fox said. “It has been unreal learning what comes with being the amateur champion. It is awesome getting to share this with my family, friends and teammates.”
Fox won the U.S. Amateur title in a 37-hole, come-from-behind win over Cal junior Michael Weaver at historic Cherry Hills Country Club outside Cherry Hills, Colo. Weaver’s lead was dormie, 2up with two to play, as Fox birdied 17 to force the match to the 18th hole. Weaver had the better position in the fairway, but Fox executed the better shot although both had 35 or more feet for birdie on the green.
Weaver was on the back of the green and his difficult effort ended up five feet below the hole. Fox’s 35-footer up the hill was a foot short of birdie. He began to take his hat off to congratulate Weaver when his opponent’s par putt went down in the hole and back out to extend the match.
“I just put my hand over my mouth,” Fox added. “I was shocked at first and then headed to one with new life.”
Fox hit a six-iron true down the middle of the fairway on one. In fact, he was so “amped” up he hit it farther than his four and five-iron tee shots on the fabled hole earlier in the day.
“It went about 260 yards,” assistant coach and second 18 caddie Ben Rickett smiled. “We were surprised at how little we had left with a wedge in his hand.”
On the other side, Weaver made the same play he made the previous two times the duo played the hole that day. He pulled out driver and was just about hole-high but well left of the green near the second hole tee box.
His first chip came up short while the second ended up around 15 feet shy of the hole. Fox’s second shot ended up 18 feet behind the hole. His slow rolling, downhill putt seemed to take forever to get to the hole. But not only did it get to the hole, but it fell true for the epic win. He added his name to a trophy that includes the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson who claimed his 1990 amateur win at Cherry Hills.
Fox and the Mocs open their 2012-13 season at the Farm in nearby Rocky Face, Ga., this weekend at the prestigious Carpet Capital Collegiate Championship. The Carpet Capital, known as the “Masters of College Golf” is a 54-hole, three-day event starting Friday, Sept. 7, and ending Sunday, Sept. 9. Admission is free. Tee times, directions to the course and a preview story will be posted on GoMocs.com later in the week.
The SGA supports amateur golf at the highest level, including staging of the Southern Am, which will be played for the 107th time next July at The Club at Carlton Woods near Houston, Texas.