The University of Mississippi Athletics
Kye Meeks Wins 70th Cotton States Invitational
8/7/2021 | Men's Golf
An Ole Miss Golfers Wins the Prestigious Tournament for Third Straight Year
MONROE, La. – Ole Miss men's golfer Kye Meeks continued a Rebel tradition by capturing the 70th annual W.E. Cole Cotton States Invitational at Bayou DeSiard Country Club on Saturday. The redshirt-freshman earned the title after surviving a seven-hole playoff against Australia's Brandon Shong.
Meeks' victory marked the third year in a row that a Rebel has won the prestigious tournament. Charlie Miller started the streak by winning the 2019 tournament, while Jack Gnam emerged as the 2020 champion.
For the first time in 50 years, the tournament was decided over 72 holes of stroke play. In past years, stroke play whittled down the field before match play determined the champion.
A trio of 3-under 69s placed Meeks just one shot off the lead entering the final round. The Walnut, Mississippi, native was 2-over through his first 10 holes on Saturday before bouncing back to force a playoff. Going bogey free over the final eight holes, including back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th, Meeks pushed himself back to level par on the day and 9-under for the tournament. However, he sat atop the leaderboard alongside Shong. Dueling for seven extra holes, the pair battled until Meeks emerged victorious.
Back to defend his title, Gnam put together a strong performance by finishing eighth. He soared up the leaderboard Saturday with a final round 67 (-5), the lowest round of the day.
Over the years the Cotton States has attracted some of the top collegiate and amateur golfers from around the world. The Cotton States has a rich tradition of high-level competition with several past contestants and champions moving on to success on the PGA Tour. A few Cotton States players of note were Don January, Homero Blancas, Jackie Cupit, Gil Morgan, Bill Rodgers, Hal Sutton, David Toms, Abraham Ancer and Marc Leishman.
For all Ole Miss Men's Golf news and information, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMGolf, on Instagram at OleMissMGolf and on Facebook at Ole Miss Men's Golf.
Meeks' victory marked the third year in a row that a Rebel has won the prestigious tournament. Charlie Miller started the streak by winning the 2019 tournament, while Jack Gnam emerged as the 2020 champion.
For the first time in 50 years, the tournament was decided over 72 holes of stroke play. In past years, stroke play whittled down the field before match play determined the champion.
A trio of 3-under 69s placed Meeks just one shot off the lead entering the final round. The Walnut, Mississippi, native was 2-over through his first 10 holes on Saturday before bouncing back to force a playoff. Going bogey free over the final eight holes, including back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th, Meeks pushed himself back to level par on the day and 9-under for the tournament. However, he sat atop the leaderboard alongside Shong. Dueling for seven extra holes, the pair battled until Meeks emerged victorious.
Back to defend his title, Gnam put together a strong performance by finishing eighth. He soared up the leaderboard Saturday with a final round 67 (-5), the lowest round of the day.
Over the years the Cotton States has attracted some of the top collegiate and amateur golfers from around the world. The Cotton States has a rich tradition of high-level competition with several past contestants and champions moving on to success on the PGA Tour. A few Cotton States players of note were Don January, Homero Blancas, Jackie Cupit, Gil Morgan, Bill Rodgers, Hal Sutton, David Toms, Abraham Ancer and Marc Leishman.
For all Ole Miss Men's Golf news and information, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMGolf, on Instagram at OleMissMGolf and on Facebook at Ole Miss Men's Golf.
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