Firing a 29 on the back nine, Katy’s Michael Cotton wins the Texas Amateur.
DALLAS — Katy’s Michael Cotton torched the back nine of Bent Tree Country Club on Sunday with a sizzling 7-under 29 to rip away the Texas Amateur title from a host of worthy contenders.
Cotton finished the weather-shortened championship at 9-under 204 overall, three shots clear of his friend and frequent playing companion Preston Stanley, also from Katy.
“I’m kind of a streaky player,” Cotton said. “I’ve been putting well all week, but nothing was going in. I got one to drop, got hot, and they all started falling.”
Cotton, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of North Texas, began the final round two shots behind leader Grant Bennett from Lewisville. With his father, Steve, caddying for him on Father’s Day, Cotton opened with four bogeys on his first eight holes.
With slumped shoulders and his head down, Cotton felt the tournament slipping away from him. That’s when his dad stepped in and offered encouragement.
“My dad just told me, ‘I still believe, and you need to, too,’” Cotton said.
What happened next will go down in Texas Amateur lore as one of the best 10-hole stretches in the 106-year history of the most prestigious amateur tournament in the state. Cotton birdied No. 9 and the floodgates opened.
Two more birdies on the 10th and 11th holes. A jaw-dropping eagle on No. 13. Then more birdies coming in on Nos. 15 and 16.
Meanwhile, Stanley put together a string of six birdies against three bogeys and posted a final round 3-under 68. It wasn’t enough.
Bennett lost control of his driver and faltered with a 2-over 73. With the championship in hand, Cotton brought it home in style, pouring in a 5-footer for one last birdie.
He played the final 10 holes at 8-under.
“I played pretty well today, just ran into a buzz saw on the back nine,” said Stanley, a junior at Houston Baptist. “The guy shot 29 on the back. What are you going to do? He’s a great player, and I’m happy for him.”