Fox adds Open to state title trophy case

photo Steven Fox

Steven Fox has hoisted two of the most coveted trophies associated with Tennessee golf.

He won the state amateur last fall at Chattanooga Golf & Country Club.

Then he turned professional.

Friday, he hoisted the Tennessee Open trophy in Nashville after overcoming a four-shot deficit to earn the $10,000 that goes to the low professional.

"I had no pressure today," said Fox, who spent his high school years in Hendersonville, played collegiately for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and won the 2011 Tennessee Match Play championship as well as the 2012 U.S. Amateur.

"I like being a few groups back, because you can sneak up from behind," Fox said. "I've done that in the past."

Fox shot a 5-under-par 66 at Belle Meade Country Club on Friday for a three-day total of 4-under 209. He clipped Brandon Rodgers of Knoxville, the low amateur, by one stroke.

Jason Millard of Murfreesboro, Grant Hirschman of Collierville and Loren Personett Jr. of Mount Juliet tied for third at 211, and defending champion Garrett Willis of Loudon and Johan Kok of Brentwood were next at 213.

"It was a really good day," Fox said over the phone. "The big difference between being low amateur and low pro is $10,000. It's also a confidence boost, an ego boost before I go to Canada."

Fox said he will be participating in events on the PGA Tour Canada and will fly north Monday.

"If this is a start of good momentum and I can get more in Canada, that would be awesome," Fox said. "I was 3 under [for the day] through six holes today, I glanced at a leaderboard and I was tied."

Fox made the turn at 3 under for the day and added two birdies on the back nine. Rodgers birdied the last two holes.

"I asked for an update on 17," Fox said. "I knew the final pairing was dropping a bit."

And Fox dropped enough putts to win.

Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.

Upcoming Events