Cover battles to the end for Southern Amateur victory

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (July 21, 2018) – When you have a summer golf schedule that takes you from one top-tier event to the next, confidence means everything. For Patrick Cover, a Southern Amateur win could change his trajectory through the fall.

Cover, a Cornelius, N.C., fresh off the North Carolina-Wilmington roster, shot to the top of the leaderboard at the Club at Olde Stone with a 9-under 63 in Round 2, but the challenge after a day like that is keeping it together. Cover, however, followed with rounds of 70-74 and at 12 under for 72 holes, won by a single shot. He led by three at the turn, but when S.M. Lee eagled the 18th, it set up a close call for Cover.

Lee, who plays for Dalton State, ended up with a final-round 70, and at 11 under for the tournament.

On Saturday, Cover was proud of his ability to just keep the big numbers off his card as he fought to keep his game on track. He balanced four bogeys – and nothing higher – with three birdies.

“It got pretty close toward the end,” he said. “I didn’t have my best game out there today but I managed it well and stayed away from big numbers. I did a good job of grinding and making sure that I didn’t make anything worse than a bogey.”

Cover taps in for par on 17👏🏼 he leads by two going down the last #sgagolf #SouthernAm pic.twitter.com/3BUZxaOgkj

— Southern Golf Assoc. (@sgagolf) July 21, 2018

Cover called the Southern Amateur title the biggest of his career. He had his grandfather caddie for him, which added another element. The week is certain to remain in his memory banks. Cover has had his grandfather caddie for him a number of times, but this marks their first victory as a team.

Expect to hear from Cover again when he tees it up at the Western Amateur in two weeks. From there, he’ll head to Pebble Beach for the U.S. Amateur.

“Winning the Southern Am kind of lets you know that you’re one of the best amateurs in the country, if not the world so I feel like I have a pretty good shot going into the U.S. Amateur.”

Cover won a five-year exemption into the Southern Amateur Championship, however he aims to turn professional following Web.com Qualifying School later this year. This summer will serve as his final tune-up for the next level.

Limpscomb golfer Eric Ansett was third at 1- under while John Augenstein, last week’s Players Amateur winner, and Brandon Smith, who plays for Texas A&M, tied for fourth at 9 under.