Cory Whitsett

{{Short description|American professional golfer}} {{use mdy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox golfer | name = Cory Whitsett | image = | image_size =  | caption = | fullname = | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|5|29}} | birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S. | death_date =  | death_place = | height = 6 ft 1 in | weight = 180 lbs | nationality = {{Flagu|United States}} | residence = Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | spouse = | partner = | children = | college = University of Alabama | yearpro = 2014 | tour = | extour = Web.com Tour | prowins =  | pgawins =  | eurowins =  | japwins =  | asiawins =  | sunwins =  | auswins =  | nwidewins =  | chalwins =  | champwins =  | seneurowins =  | otherwins =  | majorwins =  | masters = DNP | usopen = CUT: 2014 | open = DNP | pga = DNP | wghofid =  | wghofyear =  | award1 = National High School Senior<br>Athlete of the Year | year1 = 2010 | award2 = NCAA Elite 89 Award | year2 = 2012, 2013 | award3 = SEC Player of the Year | year3 = 2013 | awardssection =  }} '''Cory Whitsett''' (born May 29, 1991) is an American professional golfer, noted for his amateur success. He won the 2007 U.S. Junior Amateur and reached number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in October 2013. He appeared in the NCAA championship final with Alabama three years straight 2012–14, winning back-to-back in 2013 and 2014, recording a record seven wins in NCAA match-play.<ref name=golfdigest/>

==Amateur career== Whitsett had success as a junior golfer and won the 2007 U.S. Junior Amateur at the age of 15. In 2008, he won the Rolex Tournament of Champions and the 2008 Western Junior, and played for the United States in the Junior Ryder Cup. He was runner-up behind Bud Cauley in 2008 and behind Justin Thomas in 2010 at the Terra Cotta Invitational at Naples National Golf Club.<ref name=wagr/>

The National High School Coaches Association selected Whitsett as the 2010 National High School Senior Athlete of the Year for men's golf.<ref name=rolltide/>

In 2013, Whitsett won the Northeast Amateur. He lost a playoff to Patrick Rodgers at the SH Collegiate Masters and was runner-up at the Sunnehanna Amateur behind Steven Ihm. He played for the United States in the Arnold Palmer Cup and Walker Cup, where he sported a 2–1–1 record.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cory Whitsett – Great Eight Highlights |url=https://thebenhoganaward.org/cory-whitsett-alabama-sr-houston-texas/ |publisher=The Ben Hogan Award |access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref>

==College career== Whitsett attended the University of Alabama 2010–14 and competed for the Alabama Crimson Tide men's golf team. He won five individual titles at the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Linger Longer Invitational, the 2011 Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic and the 2013 Aggie Invitational.<ref name=rolltide>{{cite web |title=Men's Golf Roster: Cory Whitsett |url=https://rolltide.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/cory-whitsett/607 |publisher=University of Alabama |access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref> He was named 2013 SEC Player of the Year and received the NCAA Elite 89 Award in 2012 and 2013, as the student-athlete with the best GPA at the NCAA Championships.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cory Whitsett Wins NCAA Elite 89 Award |url=https://www.ajga.org/news/cory-whitsett-wins-ncaa-elite-89-award |publisher=AJGA |access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref>

Whitsett has the most wins in NCAA match-play history with seven, and was the linchpin of Alabama's three-year dynasty 2012–14. He tied for 4th individually at the 2012 NCAA Championship as Alabama lost the final to Texas 3–2. He then helped lead Alabama to the 2013 NCAA Championship, tying for 16th in stroke play and then going 3–0 in match play.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alabama rolls to first NCAA men's golf title |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/golf/2013/06/02/ncaa-mens-championship-alabama-routs-illinois/2382631/ |access-date=January 29, 2024 |newspaper=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |date=June 2, 2013}}</ref> Both years, he played in the match that decided the championship. In 2012 at Riviera, Whitsett whiffed a chip on 18 and saw his opponent Dylan Frittelli sink a 20-footer to win the title for Texas. The next year at Capital City Club, he clinched the title for the Crimson Tide on the 15th hole. He then helped Alabama secure the title again at the 2014 NCAA Championship with a win against Jordan Niebrugge of Oklahoma State.<ref name=golfdigest>{{cite magazine |last1=Ryan |first1=Shane |title=Counting down the 15 best NCAA men's match-play golfers ever |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/counting-down-the-15-best-ncaa-mens-match-play-golfers-ever |access-date=January 29, 2024 |magazine=Golf Digest |date=May 30, 2018}}</ref>

==Professional career== Whitsett turned professional after the competed in the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. He made six starts on the 2014 Web.com Tour but failed to establish himself. His best PGA Tour finish came at the 2014 Sanderson Farms Championship where he tied for 14th.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cory Whitsett |url=https://www.owgr.com/playerprofile/cory-whitsett-16396 |publisher=Official World Golf Ranking |access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref>

==Amateur wins== *2007 U.S. Junior Amateur *2008 Rolex Tournament of Champions, Western Junior *2011 Linger Longer Invitational, Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic, Patriot All-America Championship *2012 Linger Longer Invitational *2013 Linger Longer Invitational, Aggie Invitational, Northeast Amateur

Source:<ref name=wagr>{{cite web |url=https://www.wagr.com/playerprofile/cory-whitsett-527 |title=Cory Whitsett |publisher=World Amateur Golf Ranking |access-date=January 29, 2024}}</ref>

==Results in major championships== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;" !Tournament !2014 |- |align=left|U.S. Open |CUT |} CUT = missed the halfway cut<br> ''Note: Whitsett only played in the U.S. Open.''

==U.S. national team appearances== '''Amateur''' *Junior Ryder Cup: 2008 (winners) *Arnold Palmer Cup: 2013 (winners) *Walker Cup: 2013 (winners)

Source:<ref name=wagr/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{PGATour player|36836}} *{{OWGR|16396}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitsett, Cory}} Category:American male golfers Category:Alabama Crimson Tide men's golfers Category:Golfers from Houston Category:Left-handed golfers Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American sportsmen