May 16, 2012
By Mark Leon, Assistant Men's Golf Coach
Kevin Foley (`10) is coming into the summer as one of the hottest professional golfers in the country. In six events on the eGolf Tour, Foley has collected a win and three top-10 finishes, and he currently leads the money list with earnings of $43,066.64.
The eGolf tour is one of the premier developmental tours in North America, and Foley is very upbeat about his performance on the circuit thus far. Foley cited multiple factors for his recent success, ranging from an equipment change to an improved on-course approach.
"In the offseason I got fit for some new equipment with Titleist that has definitely helped, but I also spent a lot of time focusing on how I could improve my strategy and decision-making," said Foley. "I have been playing really smart this year and making a lot of good decisions on the course. From there, it has just been a matter of executing the shots."
While his play on the eGolf Tour has been encouraging and exciting, it is Foley's recent play on the Nationwide Tour that has the three-time All American really energized for the remainder of the season.
"Coming into the year, one of my goals was to win on the eGolf Tour, and I did that in my second event," added Foley. "I have played pretty solid since my win and, after qualifying for the Nationwide Event in Georgia, my goals have changed a little bit."
The Nationwide Tour's South Georgia Classic in Valdosta took place from April 26-29. Foley qualified with a solid round of 68 at Doublegate Country Club and then proceeded to turn in rounds of 70, 72, 69, 68 at the challenging Kinderlou Forest Golf Club to finish in a tie for seventh.
By virtue of his top-25 finish he earned an exemption into the following week's Stadion Classic at the University of Georgia Golf Club, where he was able to continue his hot hand. After firing four sub-70 rounds (68, 69, 68, 67) on the par-71 layout, Foley finished in another tie for seventh, earning his second exemption into this week's BMW Charity Pro-Am.
In only two events, Foley currently sits 43rd on the money list with earnings of $34,274, and he will attain his Nationwide Tour Card for the remainder of the year if he can earn an additional $9,000. In only his second year as a pro, Foley has a chance to accomplish one of the most difficult feats in professional golf, going from having no status on any major tour straight to the PGA Tour by virtue of a top-25 finish on the Nationwide Tour's money list.
But while he is on track to achieving his lifelong dream of playing on tour, Foley contends that he's not getting ahead of himself.
"I have no Nationwide status yet, so I'm trying to focus on one week at a time. But I've put myself in a good position, and I'm playing well so I'm going to put everything I have into this, and just go for it," Foley said.
The BMW Pro-Am begins this Thursday (May 17), and you can follow Foley this week on PGATour.com.