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.