Colt Knost
Encyclopedia
Colt Knost is an American
professional golfer
who currently plays on the PGA Tour
.
and grew up in Pilot Point, Texas
. He was the Class 3A State Champion his senior year of 2003. He graduated from Southern Methodist University
in 2007. While at SMU, he earned all-conference and all-region honors. He was also named the 2004 Western Athletic Conference
Freshman of the Year. Knost won three United States Golf Association
events in 2007, joining Bobby Jones
(1930) and Jay Sigel
(1983) as the only players to do so. In July he won the U.S. Amateur Public Links
over Cody Paladino, 6 & 4. In August he won he U.S. Amateur, 2 & 1 over Michael Thompson
. In September he represented the United States at the 2007 Walker Cup
. The United States won 12½ to 11½ and Knost posted a record of 2-0-2 (W-L-H). He was the number one ranked golfer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking
for five weeks in 2007 before turning professional. Knost was awarded the inaugural Mark H. McCormack Medal
by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
in 2007.
, the U.S. Open
, and the Open Championship
. Knost played in three events on the PGA Tour as a professional in 2007, making two of three cuts with his best finish coming at the Frys.com Open
, where he finished T-38. Knost went to qualifying school
to try to earn his PGA Tour card for 2008 but his finish of T-85 was not good enough to earn him his card.
Knost played on the Nationwide Tour
in 2008 and won the Fort Smith Classic and the Price Cutter Charity Championship
. He finished 6th on the money list with $329,509 and earned his 2009 PGA Tour card. On the PGA Tour, Knost made only 11 of 24 cuts, with his best finish coming at the Bob Hope Classic where he finished T-25. He finished 193rd on the money list and returned to the Nationwide Tour in 2010.
By finishing 2010 at 15th on the Nationwide Tour money list, he earned his PGA Tour card again for 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
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...
.
Amateur career
Knost was born in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
and grew up in Pilot Point, Texas
Pilot Point, Texas
Pilot Point is a city in Denton County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,538 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pilot Point is located at ....
. He was the Class 3A State Champion his senior year of 2003. He graduated from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in 2007. While at SMU, he earned all-conference and all-region honors. He was also named the 2004 Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
Freshman of the Year. Knost won three United States Golf Association
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
events in 2007, joining Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
(1930) and Jay Sigel
Jay Sigel
Robert Jay Sigel is an American professional golfer. He enjoyed one of the more illustrious careers in the history of U.S...
(1983) as the only players to do so. In July he won the U.S. Amateur Public Links
U.S. Amateur Public Links
The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, often referred to as the Public Links or the Publinx, is a men's amateur golf tournament, one of 10 individual amateur championships organized by the United States Golf Association. The USGA typically calls the event the U.S. Amateur Public Links, which...
over Cody Paladino, 6 & 4. In August he won he U.S. Amateur, 2 & 1 over Michael Thompson
Michael Thompson (golfer)
Michael H. Thompson is an American professional golfer who is currently on the PGA Tour.-Amateur career:Thompson attended University High School in Tucson, Arizona from 1999 to 2003. While there he won the Class 4A state team championship in 2003, and was named the Arizona High School State Player...
. In September he represented the United States at the 2007 Walker Cup
2007 Walker Cup
The 41st Walker Cup Match was held between September 8 and September 9, 2007 at the Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland. Team United States won 12½ to 11½. The United States won by the same score in 2005.-Format:...
. The United States won 12½ to 11½ and Knost posted a record of 2-0-2 (W-L-H). He was the number one ranked golfer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking
World Amateur Golf Ranking
The World Amateur Golf Ranking for men was introduced by the R&A, the governing body of amateur golf outside the United States and Mexico, on 23 January 2007. It is based on the results of over 750 amateur tournaments and is updated weekly. Rankings are based on the players' average performances in...
for five weeks in 2007 before turning professional. Knost was awarded the inaugural Mark H. McCormack Medal
Mark H. McCormack Medal
The Mark H. McCormack Medal is presented annually by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews to the leading player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking after the U.S. Amateur Championship and the European Amateur Championship...
by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs in the world . It is based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, and is regarded as the worldwide "Home of Golf"...
in 2007.
Professional career
Shortly after winning the 2007 U.S. Amateur, he turned professional, forfeiting his invitations to The Masters2008 Masters Tournament
The 2008 Masters Tournament was a golf competition held at Augusta National Golf Club from April 10-13. It was the 72nd Masters Tournament, and the first major of the 2008 season. Trevor Immelman won with a score of -8 . Defending champion Zach Johnson finished tied for 20th at +3...
, the U.S. Open
2008 U.S. Open Golf Championship
The 2008 United States Open Championship was the 108th U.S. Open, played from June 12 to June 16 at Torrey Pines, north of San Diego. The U.S. Open was held at the Torrey Pines for the first time, and took place on the South Course. Tiger Woods won his third U.S...
, and the Open Championship
2008 Open Championship
The 2008 Open Championship was the 137th Open Championship, played 17–20 July, at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, England. Pádraig Harrington of Ireland successfully defended his Open Championship title for his second Open title...
. Knost played in three events on the PGA Tour as a professional in 2007, making two of three cuts with his best finish coming at the Frys.com Open
Frys.com Open
The Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open is a golf tournament in the Fall Series of the PGA Tour. It is played annually in October in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tournament is held at the TPC at Summerlin and since 2008 it has been hosted by recording star Justin Timberlake.The event...
, where he finished T-38. Knost went to qualifying school
Qualifying school
In professional golf the term qualifying school is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S. based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the tour for the following season, otherwise known as a...
to try to earn his PGA Tour card for 2008 but his finish of T-85 was not good enough to earn him his card.
Knost played 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...
in 2008 and won the Fort Smith Classic and the Price Cutter Charity Championship
Price Cutter Charity Championship
The Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper is a regular golf tournament on the Nationwide Tour. It is played at the Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield, Missouri, USA...
. He finished 6th on the money list with $329,509 and earned his 2009 PGA Tour card. On the PGA Tour, Knost made only 11 of 24 cuts, with his best finish coming at the Bob Hope Classic where he finished T-25. He finished 193rd on the money list and returned to the Nationwide Tour in 2010.
By finishing 2010 at 15th on the Nationwide Tour money list, he earned his PGA Tour card again for 2011.
Amateur wins (3)
- 2005 Dixie Amateur
- 2007 U.S. Amateur Public LinksU.S. Amateur Public LinksThe U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, often referred to as the Public Links or the Publinx, is a men's amateur golf tournament, one of 10 individual amateur championships organized by the United States Golf Association. The USGA typically calls the event the U.S. Amateur Public Links, which...
, U.S. Amateur - 2008 Georgia Cup
Nationwide Tour wins (2)
- 20082008 Nationwide TourThe 2008 Nationwide Tour season ran from January 24 to November 9. The season consisted of 30 official money golf tournaments; five of which were played outside of the United States...
Fort Smith Classic, Price Cutter Charity ChampionshipPrice Cutter Charity ChampionshipThe Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper is a regular golf tournament on the Nationwide Tour. It is played at the Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield, Missouri, USA...