Cory Churchman leads by three at Cotton States
Cory Churchman
MONROE, La. — Sometimes, making a bogey on the first hole isn't as bad as it seems.
Cory Churchman, a University of North Texas senior from Abilene, Texas, did so on Wednesday during the first round of the W.E. Cole Cotton States Invitational. Then, he went out in 35 and posted four-under 32 on the back nine to shoot 67 and lead the stroke play qualifying by three shots.
After Thursday's second round, the low 32 players will head to a match play style tournament. Churchman is sure a lock to make that. The only question is, can he secure medalist honors?
Three shots back are four players tied for second place at two-under 70, including Oklahoma City University senior Anthony Marchesani and University of Arkansas junior Zach Coats.
There are currently 36 players at two-over par or better through the first round at Bayou DeSiard Country Club. Clear skies are expected tomorrow but temperatures could sore near 100 degrees in Monroe, La. as players grind out their rounds to advance to match play.
ABOUT THE
Cotton States Amateur
Originally played in 1949 as the Bayou
DeSiard Labor Day Golf Tournament, the
tournament's
name was changed to the Cotton States
Invitational in 1951 by the club's young head
professional, W. E. "Winnie" Cole. He felt that
the
name better reflected the main states that the
tournament's players originated from (and a
move
to
mid-summer made the name a necessity later
anyway). Little did Cole know that 27 years
later, in
1978, the event would be renamed again,
forever to
be known as the W. E. Cole Cotton States
Invitational Golf Tournament.
Past champions of this highly competitive, yet
festive
tournament include Don January and Hal
Sutton. Gil
Morgan, David
Toms and many other PGA Tour players have
also
competed. The tournament field field is limited
to 96
amateur
participants
having a verified USGA Handicap Index not
exceeding 0.0. Long a match play event, the
format was changed in 2021 to 72 holes of
stroke play.
View Complete Tournament Information