By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
As next week's Kentucky Amateur Golf Championship nears, two Hopkins County residents will be fine tuning various aspects of their game for participation in the prestigious event.
Patrick Hibbs and Steve Cox finished third and fourth respectively in a qualifier at Henderson County Club on May 24 to earn two of the eight berths on the day.
Hibbs, who will enter his senior year Madisonville-North Hopkins in the fall, shot a 75 while Cox, a local businessman, followed one shot behind at 76.
"It's pretty cool," Hibbs said of his first trip to the Kentucky Amateur Championship. "I'm looking forward to the tournament this week because it's probably the biggest I've ever played in and I'm just hoping I will make the cut.
"It was my first competitive tournament of the year and it was nice getting back into the rhythm and feeling the pressure."
Last high-school golf season, Hibbs narrowly missed making his second consecutive state tournament by one stroke.
Now, Hibbs said he's much improved.
Patrick Hibbs and Steve Cox finished third and fourth respectively in a qualifier at Henderson County Club on May 24 to earn two of the eight berths on the day.
Hibbs, who will enter his senior year Madisonville-North Hopkins in the fall, shot a 75 while Cox, a local businessman, followed one shot behind at 76.
"It's pretty cool," Hibbs said of his first trip to the Kentucky Amateur Championship. "I'm looking forward to the tournament this week because it's probably the biggest I've ever played in and I'm just hoping I will make the cut.
"It was my first competitive tournament of the year and it was nice getting back into the rhythm and feeling the pressure."
Last high-school golf season, Hibbs narrowly missed making his second consecutive state tournament by one stroke.
Now, Hibbs said he's much improved.
"I feel like my game is a lot better now," he said. "I can tell that I'm better. I'm hitting it longer and hitting it a little bit more straighter and everything, so I feel good about that. My putter is a little better than it was last year too."
When asked what has triggered his off-season improvement, Hibbs said, "A combination of weight room and having another year of experience, getting better."
Meanwhile, Cox ensured back-to-back appearances in the championship with his qualifying round at Henderson. Last year, Cox shot an opening-day score of 79 and then shot 87 in the state amateur at Paducah Country Club.
During Cox's senior year of high school in 1971, he led the Maroons to a second-place showing at state. Cox won the 2006 Madisonville City Golf Championship and has been crowned Evansville Club Champion 13 times.
Although Hibbs may be a first-timer in next week's field, he said as long as he can hit greens and stay away from three-putts, he should be in for a solid performance.
"I just know when I play my game and keep it down the middle, I'll be fine," he said. "I'll be able to compete with them."
The Kentucky Amateur Golf Championship will be played Tuesday through Thursday at Champion Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville.
The Messenger was unable to reach Cox for comment on Thursday.
When asked what has triggered his off-season improvement, Hibbs said, "A combination of weight room and having another year of experience, getting better."
Meanwhile, Cox ensured back-to-back appearances in the championship with his qualifying round at Henderson. Last year, Cox shot an opening-day score of 79 and then shot 87 in the state amateur at Paducah Country Club.
During Cox's senior year of high school in 1971, he led the Maroons to a second-place showing at state. Cox won the 2006 Madisonville City Golf Championship and has been crowned Evansville Club Champion 13 times.
Although Hibbs may be a first-timer in next week's field, he said as long as he can hit greens and stay away from three-putts, he should be in for a solid performance.
"I just know when I play my game and keep it down the middle, I'll be fine," he said. "I'll be able to compete with them."
The Kentucky Amateur Golf Championship will be played Tuesday through Thursday at Champion Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville.
The Messenger was unable to reach Cox for comment on Thursday.
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