The good news for Ben Kendrick is that he held the course record at Griffin Gate Golf Club. The bad news is that despite shooting 64 in the final round, Kendrick finished three shots behind champion Evan Cox, who dropped his ball into the cup on the final hole for a 63, a new course record.

That happens once in a while at PGA Tour events, not so much at amateur tournaments for players aged 25 and over. 

One thing is for certain: Cox and Kendrick staged a remarkable battle in the final round. In the end, Cox claimed the title, not only setting the Griffin Gate course record but also the tournament's scoring mark with a jaw-dropping 19-under par. But despite those numbers, Cox edged Kendrick by just three strokes.

Cox’s triumph came on the heels of an exhilarating front nine duel with Kendrick, both players matching each other with seven birdies. If the Kentucky Mid-Am was televised, the network might have been flashing "59 Watch" on the screen.

The pair made the turn with identical scores of 7-under 29. Fans held their breath as the two headed for the final stretch, knowing one slight misstep could tip the balance. After the pair matched birdies on No. 10 to get to 8-under on the round, Cox birdied the 13th to stretch his lead, but a rare bogey on the 14th briefly opened the door for Kendrick to make a charge. When Cox birdied No. 15 to go three ahead again, he just needed steady play down the stretch, and his three closing pars did the trick.

Though Kendrick -- who closed with eight-straight pars -- shot 64 to set a new course record, it would only stand for five minutes as Cox rolled in his par putt for a round of 9-under 63, for a tournament total of 19-under 197.

Cox’s summer has been nothing short of stellar, with this being his second win of the season. Just over a month ago, Cox teamed up with former University of Kentucky standout Jacob Cook to win the KGA Team Championship, adding another impressive accomplishment to his resume. But on this day, the spotlight was solely on him as he proved yet again why he’s one of Kentucky’s premier amateur golfers.

SENIOR AND SUPER-SENIOR DIVISIONS

The Senior and Super Senior divisions added to the drama earlier in the day. Davis Boland’s steady hand earned him the Senior division title, thanks to a sizzling second-round 67 that brought his 36-hole total to 7-under-par. His performance was marked by flawless ball striking and key birdies when he needed them most.

In the Masters division, James Sweeney was the picture of consistency. He became the only competitor to break par in both rounds and finished at 3-under 141. His well-rounded game paid off, as no other competitor in the field could match his performance over 36 holes.

Meanwhile, in the Legends division, Franklin Stivers started fast and never looked back. After opening with four consecutive birdies, Stivers cruised to a victory with a score of 1-under 143, capping off a day of incredible golf across all divisions.

ABOUT EVAN COX
A native of Ashland, Kentucky, Cox took the role as assistant women's golf coach at Eastern Kentucky University in 2023. That followed his own collegiate career at the University of Kentucky and Virginia Wesleyan. While at Virginia Wesleyan, he captured the 2016 NCAA Division III National Championship, becoming the first national champion in program history after birding the eighth hole in a playoff round at Midvale Country Club. Following the season, Cox was named First-Team All-American, Old Dominion Athletic Conference Golfer of the Year, and All-ODAC First Team after leading the team with a 72.4 scoring average. Cox briefly turned professional before reinstating his amateur status.

 

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