In her third appearance at the Epson Tour Championship, Carley Cox returns to the season-ending event to compete once again at LPGA International’s Jones Course. The 26-year-old began her career on the Epson Tour after completing 72 holes at Stage II of the 2019 LPGA Qualifying Tournament to become an Epson Tour rookie for the 2020 season. Since then, she has competed in 58 events, including the 2021 and 2022 Epson Tour Championship. In both playings, the North Carolina native made the cut, with her career-best finish, a tie for 30th, coming last year.
Ahead of play on Thursday, Cox currently sits at 37th on the Epson Tour's Official Money List. She has played every event of the 2023 season, making 11 cuts and missing 10, most of which came early in the year.
However, just three weeks ago, her season took an upward turn after Cox finished in the top three in back-to-back weeks. After shooting rounds of 6-under and 8-under par at the Guardian Championship and recording three consecutive under-par rounds at the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout, Cox moved up 45 spots to put her name in the conversation for an exemption into this year's LPGA Q-Series.
After having no idea where she stood in the field after her final round in Ark., Cox remembers her caddie telling her to check her phone, where she finally saw her runner-up result.
"I just had a thankful heart. I know I've been playing good golf but it doesn't always translate immediately so I know all year I have been playing pretty solid,” said the East Carolina University graduate. “But it was great to have the results and then all of a sudden okay wow, we have a chance to get out of Q-Series. I'm just thankful, proud of myself because I know I have been working hard. But at the same time, just thankful that I am playing for something pretty big this week."
With Epson's dedication to elevating women's golf, they have committed to covering LPGA Q-Series entry fees for players finishing between 11th and 35th in the Race for the Card. But that’s only a small part of the continual commitment that they’ve shown throughout the year which has been a huge deal for players like Cox.
"They have done so many great things this year,” Cox said. “From yardage books to just everything they are supporting. Their support is so good and they've been so present. That's a huge financial burden because Q-School is not cheap and for them to do that for roughly, I don't know how many that is, close to 30 girls. You know, that's amazing and life-changing for people that struggle with finances and this expensive journey in general."
With a goal of making it to LPGA Q-Series and previous experience playing LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., Epson Tour veteran Cox is more than ready for the rest of the week.
"I've made a lot of good connections here over the last couple years so seeing some familiar faces and I do feel comfortable out here on the golf course so I'm just looking forward to a good week,” she said. “Where things fall, they fall. There are positives to take. Hopefully it will fall in my favor."
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