Chris Couch (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Christian Stratton Couch (born May 1, 1973) is an American professional golfer
who currently plays on the PGA Tour
.
Couch was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
. He received an athletic scholarship
to attend the University of Florida
in Gainesville, Florida
, where he played for coach Buddy Alexander
's Florida Gators men's golf team in National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) competition from 1992 to 1995. As a sophomore, he was a member of the Gators' 1993 NCAA championship team that also included future PGA Tour golfer Brian Gay
. During his time as a Gator golfer, the team also won Southeastern Conference
(SEC) championships in 1992, 1993 and 1994. Couch was recognized as the SEC Freshman of the Year in 1992, a second-team All-SEC selection in 1993 and 1994, and a first-team All-SEC selection in 1995. In 1993 and 1995, he received All-American honors.
Couch turned professional in 1995. It took him a long time to get established and his first couple of spells on the PGA Tour
ended when he failed to win enough money to retain his tour card. He won five times on the Nationwide Tour
between 2001 and 2005, and in 2006 he made a breakthrough by winning the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic of New Orleans
. He won with a 55 foot chip-in (using a cross-handed grip) after a poor shot out of a difficult lie in a bunker.
A poor 2007 season saw Couch finish 167th on the money list and he did not play in 2008 due to a shoulder injury. He played on the PGA Tour in 2009 and 2010 on a major medical extension. By August 2010, Couch earned enough to satisfy his medical exemption and keep his tour card.
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who currently plays on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
.
Couch was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
. He received an athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he played for coach Buddy Alexander
Buddy Alexander
Stewart Murray "Buddy" Alexander is an American college golf coach and former amateur golfer. Alexander is the current head coach of the Florida Gators men's golf team of the University of Florida...
's Florida Gators men's golf team in National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) competition from 1992 to 1995. As a sophomore, he was a member of the Gators' 1993 NCAA championship team that also included future PGA Tour golfer Brian Gay
Brian Gay
Joseph Brian Gay is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour.- Early years :A military brat, Gay was born in Fort Worth, Texas, but was raised primarily at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where his father was a U.S. Army noncomissioned officer involved in flight operations...
. During his time as a Gator golfer, the team also won Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) championships in 1992, 1993 and 1994. Couch was recognized as the SEC Freshman of the Year in 1992, a second-team All-SEC selection in 1993 and 1994, and a first-team All-SEC selection in 1995. In 1993 and 1995, he received All-American honors.
Couch turned professional in 1995. It took him a long time to get established and his first couple of spells on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
ended when he failed to win enough money to retain his tour card. He won five times on the Nationwide Tour
Nationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
between 2001 and 2005, and in 2006 he made a breakthrough by winning the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is a regular golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is played annually in New Orleans, Louisiana; its historic date has been in April, but was moved to March in 2008. Zurich Financial Services is the main sponsor of the tournament.From the event's inception through...
. He won with a 55 foot chip-in (using a cross-handed grip) after a poor shot out of a difficult lie in a bunker.
A poor 2007 season saw Couch finish 167th on the money list and he did not play in 2008 due to a shoulder injury. He played on the PGA Tour in 2009 and 2010 on a major medical extension. By August 2010, Couch earned enough to satisfy his medical exemption and keep his tour card.
PGA Tour wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 30, 2006 2006 PGA Tour The 2006 PGA Tour was the last season of the PGA Tour before the major reorganization of the season brought about by the introduction of the FedEx Cup in 2007. After being challenged by Phil Mickelson in the first half of the year, when Mickelson won his second straight major at the Masters and was... |
Zurich Classic of New Orleans Zurich Classic of New Orleans The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is a regular golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is played annually in New Orleans, Louisiana; its historic date has been in April, but was moved to March in 2008. Zurich Financial Services is the main sponsor of the tournament.From the event's inception through... |
1 stroke |  Fred FunkFred Funk Frederick Funk is an American professional golfer.Funk was born in Takoma Park, Maryland. He graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1980 with a degree in law enforcement. He turned professional in 1981, but worked as a golf coach at his alma mater from 1982 to 1988; he did not... , Charles Howell IIICharles Howell III Charles Gordon Howell III is an American golfer. He has been featured in the top 15 of the Official World Golf Rankings.-Early years and amateur career:... |
Nationwide Tour wins (5)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 11, 2001 2001 Buy.com Tour The 2001 Buy.com Tour season ran from Mar 8 to October 28. The season consisted of 27 official money golf tournaments, and one canceled tournament. Two tournaments were played outside of the United States... |
BUY.COM Florida Classic | 1 stroke | Chad Campbell Chad Campbell David Chad Campbell is an American professional golfer.-Early years and amateur career:Campbell was born in Andrews, Texas and grew up in west Texas. He was a member of a strong junior college men's golf squad during the years he played at Midland College... |
|
| 2 | Sep 14, 2003 2003 Nationwide Tour The 2003 Nationwide Tour season ran from February 27 to November 2. The season consisted of 30 official money golf tournaments; four of which were played outside of the United States... |
Oregon Classic Oregon Classic The Oregon Classic was a golf tournament on the Nationwide Tour from 1998 to 2008. It was played at the Shadow Hills Country Club in Junction City, Oregon, USA.The 2008 purse was $500,000, with $99,000 going to the winner.-Winners:... |
Playoff | Jason Bohn Jason Bohn Jason Duehn Bohn is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour.Bohn was born in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1995 with a degree in Finance. In 1992, while a sophomore on the Alabama golf team, Bohn was playing in a charity... |
|
| 3 | Nov 2, 2003 2003 Nationwide Tour The 2003 Nationwide Tour season ran from February 27 to November 2. The season consisted of 30 official money golf tournaments; four of which were played outside of the United States... |
Nationwide Tour Championship | 3 strokes | D. J. Brigman D. J. Brigman David Franklin "D. J." Brigman, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.... |
|
| 4 | May 15, 2005 2005 Nationwide Tour The 2005 Nationwide Tour season ran from January 27 to October 30. The season consisted of 31 official money golf tournaments; five of which were played outside of the United States... |
Rheem Classic Rheem Classic The Fort Smith Classic was a golf tournament on the Nationwide Tour. It is held each year at Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It was the only annual PGA Tour event in the U.S. state of Arkansas.... |
5 strokes | Troy Matteson Troy Matteson Troy Jason Matteson is an American professional golfer.Matteson was born in Rockledge, Florida. He played college golf at Georgia Tech and won the NCAA Individual Championship in 2002.Matteson debuted on the Nationwide Tour in 2004... |
|
| 5 | Jun 12, 2005 2005 Nationwide Tour The 2005 Nationwide Tour season ran from January 27 to October 30. The season consisted of 31 official money golf tournaments; five of which were played outside of the United States... |
LaSalle Bank Open LaSalle Bank Open The Bank of America Open was a golf tournament on the Nationwide Tour from 2002 to 2008. It was played at The Glen Club in Glenview, Illinois, USA... |
4 strokes | Kevin Durkin,  Paul GowPaul Gow Paul Gow is an Australian professional golfer who currently plays on the Nationwide Tour.Gow was born in Sydney, Australia. He turned professional in 1993.... Mario Tiziani |
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 2006 |
|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
CUT |
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
See also
- 2003 Nationwide Tour graduates2003 Nationwide Tour GraduatesThis is a list of players who graduated from the Nationwide Tour in 2003. The top 20 players on the Nationwide Tour's money list in 2003 earned their PGA Tour card for 2004.*PGA Tour rookie for 2004....
- 2005 Nationwide Tour graduates2005 Nationwide Tour GraduatesThis is a list of players who graduated from the Nationwide Tour in 2005. The top 21 players on the Nationwide Tour's money list in 2005 earned their PGA Tour card for 2006.*PGA Tour rookie for 2006....
- List of golfers with most Nationwide Tour wins
- List of Florida Gators golfers