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Cole Miller makes key birdie on the final hole to cap successful 2018 PGA Tour Canada season
September 20, 2018
Cole Miller knew he needed a birdie on the final hole Sunday at the 2018 Mackenzie Tour PGA Tour Canada season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship at Highland Country Club in London, Ontario.
Miller, a former Northwestern Lehigh High School (2014) and Penn State golf standout (2018), sank a 15-foot birdie putt to earn a tie for ninth place at the final event of the PGA Tour Canada season, and earn a much-coveted top-25 money list ranking.
“I knew I was in a close spot.” Miller said. “I knew a top-eight finish would guarantee me. I had a 15-foot straight up the hill. I hit 3-iron off the tee, a left myself a full wedge to the green. I made it dead center.”
The clutch putt allowed Miller to accomplish three key goals in his first season on the circuit:
1. Miller finished 25th on the money list at $30,675 to earn the last exemption spot from the developmental golf series. He earned $6,075 at the event to squeeze into the top-25 by just $130.
2. Miller earned an exemption into second stage of the three-stage Web.com Tour qualifying process. The Web.com Tour is the gateway circuit to the PGA TOUR.
3. By easing past the first stage of Web.com Tour qualifying school, Miller saved a $5,000 first stage entry fee, didn’t have to rush to prepare for a stage one event in Arizona in early October, and can focus his attention and preparation on a stage two qualifying event from November 6-9 in Florida.
“That is amazing,” said Miller, who plans to do much of his training at nearby Olde Homestead Golf Club. “It’s a huge stress lifted off of me. I have some time to rest and recuperate for the second stage. The travel can get to me. I haven’t had a chance to get back to my daily routine of practice and play.
I need to sharpen my wedges, and distance control is a little off with my new irons. I have been driving the ball well, and my putting has improved. My putting was really good this week.”
Beginning the final week of the tour’s season in 26th place on the money list, Miller knew he had the following goals to aspire for:
* Mackenzie Tour PGA Tour Canada leading money-winner: fully exempt for the 2019 Web.com Tour.
• 2nd-5th place money list: conditional 2019 Web.com Tour status, exempt to the final stage of Web.com Qualifying School.
• 6th-10th place money list: exempt to the final stage of the 2019 Web.com Qualifying School.
• 11th-25th place: Exempt to the second stage of the 2019 Web.com Qualifying School.
Overall, Miller averaged 68.44 strokes per round in nine tournaments. He had three top-10 finishes, including a season-best tie for fourth place in the Stall Foundation Open in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Miller managed to get into the top-25, which sets up his run at the Web.com Tour.
“I know Q School is a grind, so I’m happy I’m exempt into the second stage,” Miller said.
By earning a spot in the final tournament of the 2018 Mackenzie Tour PGA Tour Canada, Miller is fully exempt for the circuit’s 2019 season.
Following an outstanding amateur career, Miller turned professional at the U.S. Open in June. Miller earned four tournament exemptions in late March for the PGA Tour Canada.
The region’s dominant amateur golfer from 2012-2017, Miller earned a record five Lehigh Valley Player of the Year awards in six seasons. In late July of 2017, he became the first amateur to win the Lehigh Valley Open.
Miller, the 2016 Pennsylvania Amateur Championship winner, was runner-up in the 2017 event.
Miller won six tournament titles as a four-year starter for the Penn State golf program. He was the 2017 Big Ten Golf Championships runner-up. Miller set a program scoring average record of 72.11 strokes per round.
Miller qualified for the 2015 and 2017 U.S. Amateur, and competed in the 122nd British Amateur at Royal St. George’s and Prince’s in June of 2017. He was extended an invitation by virtue of winning the 2017 NCAA Washington Regional event.
From 2012 to 2016, Miler won a regional-best 14 individual amateur tournament titles. Miller won a record four consecutive Lehigh Valley Medal Play titles from 2013 to 2016.
While at Northwestern Lehigh High School, Miller won the 2011 and 2013 District 11 titles, captured three consecutive Colonial League championships, had two runner-up finishes in the 2012 and 2013 PIAA State Golf Championships, and was an outstanding 117-under-par for 486 holes (4.33 strokes under-par) his junior and senior seasons.
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