Chris Couch - Media Guide

chip-in par on 72nd hole. Opened 70-70 to make the cut on the number, and grabbed 54-hole lead with an 8-under-par 64 on a blustery Saturday. On Sunday, posted final-round 65 that included a 12-foot bogey putt on No. 17 and the chip-in par on No. 18 after a difficult bunker shot behind green left him lying three in the green-side rough. The 269 total (19-under par) bested Charles Howell III and Fred Funk by one stroke. Earned a career-best $1,080,000 after entering the week with just two made cuts in nine starts and $22,278 in earnings. Jumped to No. 103 in Official World Golf Ranking in becoming the 15th player to earn first TOUR victory in New Orleans...Shared third-round lead with Davis Love III at the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro. Finished T12 after a final-round, even-par 72. 2005: Earned return trip to the TOUR for the third time in his career and second time via the Nationwide Tour. Finished third on the Nationwide Tour money list (fourth in 2003)...Notched his fourth career Tour win with a five-stroke victory at the Rheem Classic. Tied the Hardscrabble CC course record with a final-round, 10-under-par 60...Won his second event at the LaSalle Bank Open. The victory moved him to the top of the season money list and past Pat Bates on the Tour's career money list ($923,765). The win marked his fourth victory in 15 starts, dating back to the 2003 season. It also earned an exemption into the Cialis Western Open, where he held the 36-hole lead before tying for 13th. 2004: Recorded first top-10 on TOUR since a T7 at the 1999 Sony Open in Hawaii with a T10 at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic. Was one behind Fred Funk through 54 holes and finished five back after a final-round, 2-under 70...Ended the season No. 217 on the money list. 2003: Brenden Pappas loaned him $3,000 in mid-season to allow him to continue playing...Finished the season No. 4 on the Nationwide Tour money list with $342,874...Capped the season with a victory at the season-ending Tour Championship. Shattered the previous tournament record with an 18-under-par 270, three shots clear of D.J. Brigman...Also won the Oregon Classic. Shot a final-round, 3-under-par 69 and then birdied the first playoff hole to defeat Jason Bohn. 2002: Played 23 events on the Nationwide Tour. 2001: Had thoughts of giving up the game and becoming a club professional. Began the 2001 season with no status on either Tour. Used sponsor exemption to gain admittance to season-opening Florida Classic on his home course, Gainesville CC. Captured first career victory, the $76,500 winner's check and fully-exempt status for the remainder of the 2001 and 2002 seasons. 1999: Earned membership on the TOUR after finishing T17 at the 1998 Qualifying Tournament. Only top-10 was a T7 at the 1999 Sony Open in Hawaii, his first career professional start on the TOUR...Finished 181st on TOUR money list, making just six of 30 cuts. Amateur: Two-time All-America selection at University of Florida...In 1991, was top-ranked junior golfer in the United States...His father started him in the game at age 7...At age 16, successfully qualified for 1990 Honda Classic, where he shot 82-77 and missed the cut.

at the Rheem Classic and the LaSalle Bank Open to bring his career total to five Nationwide Tour wins. Tied the Hardscrabble CC course record at the Rheem Classic with a final-round, 10-under-par 60, which is the best final-round score by a tournament winner in a 72-hole event in Nationwide Tour history. Paycheck of $135,000 at LaSalle Bank Open was a domestic Tour record, earned him June Player of the Month honors and an exemption into the Cialis Western Open, where he held the 36-hole lead before eventually tying for 13th. The $96,667 check was just shy of the $100,283 he earned in 24 events as a member of the PGA TOUR in 2004. Season total of $337,205 made him the first player in Nationwide Tour history to top $300,000 in a season twice (2003). Recorded first top-10 on the PGA TOUR since a T7 at the 1999 Sony Open in Hawaii with a T10 at the 2004 Southern Farm Bureau Classic. Finished fourth on 2003 Nationwide Tour money list and won twice including the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship. Set tournament record with a 72-hole total of 18-under 270. Other victory came at the Oregon Classic in September. PGA TOUR member Brenden Pappas loaned him $3,000 in mid-season to allow him to continue playing. Had thoughts of giving up the game and becoming club professional. Began the 2001 season with no status on either Tour. Used sponsor exemption to gain admittance to season-opening Florida Classic on his home course, Gainesville CC. Captured first career victory, the $76,500 winner's check and fully-exempt status for the remainder of the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Finished 181st on PGA TOUR money list in 1999, making just six of 30 cuts. Lone top-10, a T7, came in his first TOUR start at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Member of Nationwide Tour 1997-98, 2000-03 and 2005. At age 16, successfully qualified for 1990 Honda Classic on PGA TOUR. Two-time All-America selection at University of Florida.