Cox Earns Medalist Honors, Qualifies for 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur

BETHESDA, Md. – Rising-senior Michelle Cox (Allentown, Pa.) fired a 3-under, 67, on Tuesday during a qualifying event at Kenwood Golf and Country Club earning medalist honors and a spot in the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur for the first time in her career.

“I grew up watching the U.S. Amateur on TV, it’s such a cool event and being the first year I’ve qualified it means a lot to me and I’m excited about this opportunity,” mentioned Cox. “I did a good job grinding out holes today. I hit some bad shots, but had a great day fighting out scores.

The 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur will be played August 5-11 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma where 156 competitors will battle it out for the gold medal and the Robert Cox Trophy. The championship format begins with 36 holes of stroke play to determine the low 64 players who move on to the match play portion to determine a champion.

Alumna Jackie Rogowicz ’19 fired a 1-over, 71, on Tuesday and was victorious in a three-way playoff to determine the other two qualifiers out of the Bethesda event. Rogowicz will make her second-straight U.S. Amateur appearance and her seventh overall.

Cox was the lone golfer in the 64-player field to finish in red figures after registering seven birdies on the way to her 3-under score. For Cox, the victory is her second of the summer after capturing the crown at the 2nd Women’s Open of Virginia with a 7-under, 209, three weeks ago.

“I had a strong season at Penn State and it’s been fun to build off that this summer and play some really good golf, it’s really encouraging to see how much better my game is becoming,” stated Cox. “I’ve been focusing on my putting and getting straighter off the tee, and I’ve seen my proximity to the hole improve as a result.”

Cox opened the event with a three-putt bogey on the first hole which she erased quickly with a birdie on the par-3 second, however, a wayward tee shot led to a double-bogey on the fourth hole. A quick regroup with her dad, who was carrying her bag for the event, helped her settle in and led to birdies on three of the next five holes as she made the turn at 1-under following a front-nine 34.

The back nine began with another birdie, and following a bogey at the par-4 14th hole Cox spotted a familiar face in the crowd that gave her added motivation down the home stretch.

“I saw coach Simpson and it was great to see her,” said Cox. “She just waved at me and smiled; it definitely helped me finish strong.”

Cox went on to post back-to-back birdies on 16 and 17 and finish the final four holes 2-under to card a 2-under, 33, on the back side and a round of 3-under, 67.

The rising-senior wraps up the month of July at the 11th Pennsylvania Women’s Amateur before heading to Tulsa for the U.S. Amateur to close out her summer slate.

Final Results