A surprise packet from Queensland has finished the opening day of the Golf NSW Amateur Championship with the low round at Riverside Oaks Golf Resort.
Steven Cox from Wantima Country Club north of Brisbane scorched around the Gangurru course with a 6-under par 65 with a round that contained 5 birdies, an eagle and a solitary bogey.
“I played solid. I knew the conditions were good for scoring before I teed off today. I tried to hit as many greens as I could, put myself in good position to hole some good putts and it worked.”
Cox felt his good score today came down to keeping his emotions in check, something he hasn’t been too good at before.
“It was all about keeping my excitement down a bit. I know everyone can get excited when they’re having a good round. I’ve done that a lot myself, got excited, and then made a few bogeys.”
“I was just trying to keep my head in the game and do what I have to do. Keep the routine the same. It worked.”
Cox, who has just turned 18, finished high school last November. He’s hoping to get a part time job so he can earn some cash and commit a lot more time to his game.
“I want to travel and play and get my ranking up as high as I can. I’m aiming to be number one in Australia in the men’s ranking. That’s my goal.”
He’s been getting a bit of golf in working towards his goal too. He played the Aussie Amateur Champs in Melbourne a fortnight ago, and the Lake Macquarie amateur last week.
Things really started to click for the teenager late last year, and the dedication seems to be beginning to pay off. His talent and dedication have been noticed by Golf Queensland along the way, with selection in the QLD State Junior Team last year. He has just been selected in the QAS Program as well.
“I was really stoked to get in to the QAS. That was a big goal of mine. I hoped to get into it by then end of this year but to get into it at the end of last year, it's given me a big confidence boost.”
Cox is ready to find out how far he can go in the game, and to do it in his own way along the way. doing it yourself is a trait he admires in one of his idols, Bubba Watson.
I’m a huge fan of Bubba. He does stuff his own way. I like that. I like doing stuff my own way and I really like that about him too,” he smiled.