J.J. Killeen wins the Cox Classic on the Nationwide Tour
J.J. Killeen apparently has hit the best form in his career when he won his second consecutive title on the Nationwide tour, taking down the latest Cox Classic on Sunday, August 7.
Killeen cleared the field at the Champions Run, Omaha, NE, by one shot to lift his second title in a week after his stellar victory at last week’s Utah Championship. Interestingly, Killeen finished off with an aggregate of 22-under on both occasions en route
to his victory.
“It feels awesome,” said Killeen, who collected a check for $130,500 and moved to No. 2 on the money list. “What a difference two weeks makes.”
The difference is more than evident as Killeen has now climbed to number two on the money list on the Nationwide Tour and is now fairly satisfied to stay in the Top 25 till the end of the season to finally qualify for PGA Tour card for 2012.
“Two weeks ago I was sitting 25th and knew I had the game and my goal was to finish in the top 25,” he said. “Obviously now I'm in a great spot but every dollar is important and every spot on the money list is important out here. I don't have any plans to
lay low.”
The former TCU player, kept falling in and out of contention throughout the final round when he was threatened by the approaching Jonas Blixt, Ken Duke, Gary Christian and former U.S. Amateur champion Danny Lee all of whom finished runners up.
Killeen had a rather disappointing round on the final day as compared his solid par performances on the preceding two rounds. The player fell in for three birdies and carded five birdies in all to settle for two-under, 69. He had closed second and third
rounds with stunning scores of 64 and 63 respectively. The American owed most of his success to the previous rounds where he carded some 15 birdies and dropped just two shots on the 36-hole stretch.
Killeen has now become the sixth player to win consecutive events on the tour history and has now posted 16 back to back under-par rounds so far. He has a scoring average of 67.125 and has made the cut in all the 14 events in his 15 starts missing only the
BMW Charity Pro-Am Presented by SYNNEX Corporation. He also finished for an outright fifth at the Melwood Prince George's County Open Presented by Under Armour in May this year.
With his winning prize share of $130,500 Killeen has now racked up $326,586 to soar up to second on the money list. The Nationwide schedule will not be moving to the Price Cutter Charity Championship Presented by Dr. Pepper in its fifth straight week of
high profile events. The tournament has purse of $625,000 with $112,500 winner’s share.
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