Cox Rallies to Win Junior Girls’ at Lebanon
LEBANON, Pa. - After coming close in 2019 in this event, Michelle Cox was determined to write a different script this time. But after the opening round on Monday at Lebanon Country Club, she trailed Jade Gu by three shots. However, Cox was able to rally and make up the deficit to force extra holes before topping Gu with a long par putt on the second playoff hole to win the Pennsylvania Junior Girls’ Championship, presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Both players tied at even par 144 after 36 holes.
“It feels good!” said Cox. “I came in second two years ago, so it feels great to get it done this year. Especially since it’s been tough with my game lately and because this was the last year I could play this tournament, it was a very happy moment for me.”
Cox, an 18-year old from Allentown who plays out of Lehigh Country Club, started the second round sharply with a pair of birdies. She made four birdies on the opening nine, but that was matched by Yardley Country Club’s Gu, who made four of her own. Each golfer shot 34 on the opening nine, so Gu brought a three-shot lead to the back side.
Unfortunately for Gu, a tough break on the par-5 15th kept Cox’s chances alive. Gu had a lost ball that couldn’t be found in the allotted time and she was assessed a penalty and ended up making a double bogey. Heading into the 18th hole, she still had a two-stroke lead. But after Gu made bogey, Cox made a clutch birdie to force a playoff. She hit a wedge to about nine feet and sank the putt.
That led to even more golf for two players who had already spent hours out on the course on a day where temperatures reached well into the 90s.
“The toughest part about today was absolutely the heat,” Cox said, who will play golf at Penn State next year. “It was great to have so much water on the course.”
One struggle for Cox with the heat was holding the club.
“Well I never play with a glove, but I was so hot today that I had to stop the club from slipping,” she said. It changed how I concentrated because it was taking a lot out of me and I needed to focus even more.”
After the players parred the first playoff hole, they headed back to No. 18. Gu hit her tee shot down the middle while Cox was right off the tee. Cox hit her approach shot under the pine trees leaving a difficult look, but she was able to chip out from under the trees to about 40 feet. Gu, meanwhile, hit her approach to a greenside bunker but ended up with a bad break as her ball was against the lip, leaving a very tough shot. She got it out of the bunker into the rough but her chip for par ran past the hole. That set the stage for Cox, who promptly rolled in the 40-footer for par to claim the state title.
Finishing in third place was Whitford Country Club's Ava O'Sullivan, who shot 145 (+1), one stroke behind Cox and Gu. Rounding out the top five where Paige Richter of Country Club of Harrisburg and Riley Quartermain of Llanerch Country Club, who tied for fourth at 146.
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Lebanon Country Club for the hospitality in hosting the championship. Thanks as well to DICK'S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the championship.