Steven Fox Shines for Utcby B.B
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(LEFT) PHOTO COURTESY OF (LEFT) PHOTO COURTESY US GA. ALL R I G HTS R ESERVED. Steven Fox Shines for UTCBy B.B. Branton is golf coaches call him a leader, his teammates call him the golf comedian, and one pro- at Cherry Hills, talking about anything final 64, anyone could have gone on H fessor describes him as one who truly enjoys the academic experience. But everyone calls but golf, and then in an instant he was a hot streak and won it all,” Fox says. A Wiz at the Short Game able to re-focus on his game and hit a UTC senior Steven Fox one thing: a champion. Winner of more than 100 junior tournaments The October World great shot.” At 6’3”, 150 pounds, Fox says he Amateur Win knows his won’t be among the long since the age of seven, the 21-year-old Fox won amateur golf’s top prize—the U.S. Amateur—in Fox certainly had more than one Maybe anyone could have got- hitters off the tee, but will be near mid-August, putting him and his university front and center in amateur golf discussions. In a great shot in his bag while vying for ten that “hot streak,” but Fox proved the top of the leader board at day’s amateur golf’s most prestigious title. life-changing eight weeks, Fox would go from being an unknown and 127th in the world to be- himself again with his October per- end relying on the old adage of In the semifinals, he stuck a 4-iron shot coming the U.S. Amateur champion, a U.S. team world champion, and ranking 13th in the world. formance at the World Amateur Team “drive for show and putt for dough.” from 205 yards to within seven feet of Championship in Antalya, Turkey (Oct. “I have never been a big hitter off the the pin on the 18th to seal the victory. The August U.S. top-ranked player in the match play in Colorado,” says Fox, whose newly 4-7). Fox, Chris Williams (U. of Washing- tee so I developed a strong short And in the finals, he showed even more Amateur Win formatted quarterfinals (Chris Williams purchased pink U.S. Amateur shirt sold ton) and Justin Thomas (U. of Alabama) game at an early age,” he says. of the University of Washington), and out in 15 minutes from the clubhouse finesse. “Using my 60 degree wedge, I combined for a rain-shortened 54-hole In a whirlwind, 10-day links journey “My short game was the best it has then in the 36-hole final, he rallied from during the day of the semifinals. hit the green from about 80 yards out of a lifetime at Cherry Hills (Colo.) Coun- total of 24-under 404 (a record score) ever been at Cherry Hills,” says Fox on the 35th hole—I was two-down at the try Club, Fox didn’t bring enough clothes, two-down with two to go to defeat Mi- “Nothing seems to rattle him,” to win the 2012 world title. who models his short game after time—and again on the first playoff hole. but did bring his “A-game” to win the chael Weaver (University of California says UTC assistant golf coach Ben The American trio—all ranked in the three-time Masters champion Phil Havemeyer Trophy—the Heisman Tro- - Berkeley) on the first extra hole. Rickett, who caddied for Fox the final I made the putts and won the champion- top 15 in the world—beat runner-up Mickelson. Mickelson also won his phy, the Holy Grail—of amateur golf. “I packed enough clothes for four or 18 holes on championship Sunday. “He ship,” he says. Mexico by five strokes, leading team U.S. Amateur title at Cherry Hills Along the way, the Hendersonville, five days, not knowing I would make the and I were telling jokes walking down “I love match play golf as every hole is USA to win the Eisenhower Trophy Country Club in 1990. Tenn. resident disposed of the world’s finals, so I had to buy a few things while the fairways during the final round a match within itself. Once we got to the title for the first time since 2004. 54 CityScopeMag.com CityScopeMag.com 55 5999 Shallowford Rd. • Chattanooga MASTER’S DEGREE www.mcomiedentistry.com www.facebook.com/ IN COUNSELING McOmieFamilyDentistry Let Us Help You Help Others 423-899-1112 The counseling program at Southern Adventist University is focused on Christ, the Wonderful Counselor. Scheduled for Your Convenience. Classes are held in the evenings to accommodate your work schedule. Designed for Your Success. Southern’s program prepares students for state licensure and provides practical knowledge and clinical experience. Grounded in Christian Principles. The training you receive at Southern will be grounded in Christian principles, but designed to prepare you for work in a variety of settings. Call or visit online to find out how you can get started. Master of Science in Counseling McOmie Family • Clinical Mental Health Counseling Dentistry Patient, • School Counseling Lynn Ireland, Two Bridges and Two Veneers Doctors Mark McOmie, DMD, and Ellen McOmie, DMD, with their 1.800.SOUTHERN • southern.edu/graduatestudies daughter Claire 56 CityScopeMag.com CityScopeMag.com 57 Cool & Collected So where did Fox come from? Who is this guy, who’s not the game’s longest hitter, but comes up with the big shots when needed? According to his coaches and teammates, Fox is a quiet leader, yet one who keeps everyone on the team loose and laughing—Jeff Foxworthy in spikes, but also Superman with a 60-degree wedge in his hand. “It’s not the job of my team captain to carry the team by shoot- ing a low score every round, but to keep the team loose, relaxed and have a positive attitude,” says UTC head golf coach Mark Guhne. “Steven does that better than any other captain I have ever had.” “He’s a different type of leader, not at all pushy,” says Rickett. “People enjoy being around him and respect him for his work ethic, how he carries himself.” While the 21-year-old was calm under fire, coach Guhne was Steven, age 6, just the opposite. “I was a basket case, mentally,” Guhne says. with father, “I was so nervous during the championship match at Cherry Alan Hills, but Steven was able to make people relax and laugh and still play championship golf.” Coach Rickett further notes, The Makings of a Champion “He’s the best I have ever seen at focusing on the present and having belief in his short game to get him out of trouble and Born in South Carolina, Fox lived in more red and blue states make the key shots.” before the age of 14 than a politician can visit on a whistle stop tour just prior to election day (six). Mentally Tough Ag e 7: Fox wins his first golf tournament and can “I want to win as much as the next player, but if I didn’t have beat his dad—a former pro basketball fun on the course I would be doing something else besides golf,” player in Israel—in an 18-hole match. Fox says. “My parents taught me early on about mental tough- Age 14: At 5’2”, 100 lbs., Fox earns Hendersonville ness, never giving up—the philosophy of refusing to lose—as (Tenn.) High School’s No.1 spot in his first well as staying humble while striving for success. You will never practice round. He would go on to earn All- see me get emotional on the course.” American Prep honors during his high school But Fox has not always had the Chris Evert-Gary Player all- career business type persona from tee to green. “I threw some pretty Age 21: Fox wins the U.S. Amateur to give UTC its big temper tantrums in middle school when I would play bad,” greatest sports victory in its history. he says. A cooler approach to the game, along with mental toughness and a talented short game, came from his father, Alan. “As a young golfer, he would get upset after making some bad shots and we talked about leaving the bad shots in the past and just focusing on the next one,” says Alan, who was his son’s caddy throughout the U.S. Amateur except when coach Rickett toted the bag the final 18 holes. “In one tournament, he triple bogeyed the first hole and went on to win it.” Driven to Achieve “I must have something to play for whether it is in practice or in a match,” says Fox. “I despise practice rounds so I must have something on the line with my teammates to make it interesting— whether the loser has to clean the bathroom or his teammate’s Steven, age 13 spikes...I have never had to clean the bathroom because of losing a golf bet and I don’t plan on ever having to do that.” 58 CityScopeMag.com CityScopeMag.com 59 ar tment P ations De C s Communi C ha tt anooga al thleti C Buy or Lease Financing Available Photos Cour tesy of the Call 423-531-7206 or visit www.chattanoogagolfcarts.com Fox, shortly after his win at the 2012 Amateur with (l to r) UTC Assistant Coach Ben Rickett, Jim Horten, Head Coach Mark Gunne and David McKenna 1915 South Broad St., Along with desire to win comes and study hard from my older sister, Chattanooga, TN 37408 smarts and discipline.