Putting together his best round of the 2015 NJCAA Division I Men's National Championship, Landon Fox of the Barton Community College men's golf team fired a +3 75 Thursday in third round action at Newton's Sand Creek Station. Fox had four bogeys and one birdie carding a 38 on the opening front nine closing with a 37 matching last year's best round in the national championship while moving up six spots in the individual standings to 63rd.
Saving par with a chip beyond the first green, Fox lobbed a crucial wedge over tree tops after an errant tee shot to save the second hole as the sophomore began his round parring the first five holes. Taming the erratic driver in the third day, Fox couldn't capitalize from the perfect tee shot running into bunker problems on the sixth leading to bogey. One of many sharp chip shots from Fox throughout the tournament, Fox rebounded with a saved par on the par-3 seventh. Conquering the troublesome eighth tee box, a long approach and tricky downhill breaking putt led to a three putt taking Fox to +2. Having a chance to get the stroke back on the ninth, the birdie putt just missed following an ideal drive and approach.
A leaked drive on the edge of the eleventh fairway behind a tree would leave Fox little options as a punch out to the fairway and front fringe approach would lead to bogey. Fox would get the stroke back two holes later after burying a 25' foot birdie from the middle of the green on the par-3 thirteenth. Bombing the fourteenth drive to the middle of the fairway, a faded approach to just off the right side of the green seemed harmless enough but a buried lie would lead to a punch past the stick and two putt for Fox's final bogey of the day.
A member of the 21st place Cougar team at last year's championship, Fox will look to better his freshman year 54th place performance wrapping up the 2015 Championships Friday morning beginning at 7:40 a.m.
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