JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Nancy Cox took a detour from the golf course and found her love for the game in the process.
Cox, a three-time All-News4JAX selection from Ponte Vedra and now the girls golfer of the year, has been on the ascent for years on the course. But it was a five-year break from the game that gave Cox a renewed focus on the sport and sparked a motivation that will carry her into college at Florida Atlantic.
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Once Cox picked the clubs back up in middle school, the fuse was lit. Golf became her passion and her game got better and better and better. Cox finished fifth in the Class 2A state tournament last year and was tied for second in her final season with a 3-under 141.
An individual state title would have been nice, but Cox finished her career with no shortage of gold medals. She was a two-time district champ and also took a region crown as a junior. Stacking medalist honors wasn’t something on Cox’s radar early in her career. If there’s a defining moment in Cox’s career, it’s an easy one for her to pick.
Making her middle school golf team.
“That was exciting for me,” she said. “So that was like an exciting part [of her journey]. And then I was like, ‘Maybe I can try and make the high school team and see where it goes from there.’ And I just found a love for it, and it just took off from there.”
Cox was introduced to the game by her father, Stephen, a PGA Tour rules official and a very good golfer on his own merits. Her mother, Jill, is a good golfer, too, so Cox said she had the foundation laid early.
“He grew up playing the game. So, he coached me basically all the way up through middle school,” Cox said. “And then I eventually started taking it more seriously going into high school. But yeah, I’ve always loved playing with my dad. And my mom plays a little bit, too.”
Her parents didn’t push Cox into golf. She said that had to evolve naturally. Cox’s first love was gymnastics before that segued into golf. She remembers first picking up a club around 8 years old before opting to explore other sports.
“I took a bit of a break for about five years. I just didn’t really have the motivation at that time,” she said.
Cox made a break from golf and started getting involved in soccer. She liked the team aspect of the sport and found it enjoyable. Cox played for a little bit of time competing in a more relaxed league before making the jump to a higher level of soccer.
“I wouldn’t say I excelled the way I did at golf. But, I mean, I thought it was fun for the short amount of time. I wasn’t that good, to be honest,” she said with a laugh.
Cox was very good in golf, almost a natural.
Cox swapped soccer for golf in middle school, and she calls that transition a critical step in her journey. She tried out for and made her middle school golf team at Landrum, something that ignited her passion for the game. When Cox started high school, she tried out and made the Ponte Vedra team. And that gave way to thinking about golf beyond high school.
“Starting my sophomore year going into junior year, I was like, I really want to play college golf,” she said. “You know, I got that motivation, and I was like, ‘I’m going to play college golf.’ I’m going to see if I can go to the best place I can.”
First team
Player, school, class, notable
Nancy Cox, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Three-time first-team All-News4JAX selection and now the All-News4JAX golfer of the year. T-2 as Class 2A state runner-up with a 3-under 141. Carded lowest individual round in 2A state meet with a 4-under 68 in the opening round. District champ with an even-par 72. T-11 at region with 5-over 77.
Ryan Donaldson, Suwannee, So.
Two-time All-News4JAX selection. Another excellent underclassmen girls golfer. Fifth at Class 1A state tournament with 1-over 145. Third at region meet with 1-under 71. District runner-up with a 4-over 76.
Karlee Gainey, Columbia, Sr
Region champ at 3-under 69. Led Tigers to district title by earning medalist honors (2-over 74). T-22 at Class 2A state tournament with 13-over 157.
Alexandra Gazzoli, Matanzas, Sr.
Last year’s All-News4JAX golfer of the year after a state championship, she was fourth in the Class 2A state tournament with a 1-over 145. Region runner-up with a 2-under 70. Had 3-over 75 for T-2 in district tournament. Four-time first-team All-News4JAX selection.
Sofia Rivera, Beachside, Fr.
Excellent debut season and in the conversation as the area’s top golfer. Finished T-2 in Class 2A state tournament at 3-under 141 as second-year Barracudas won first team state championship. District champ at even-par 72. T-6 in region with a 1-over 73.
Second team
Player, school, class, notable
Sahana Chokshi, Episcopal, Fr.
Great season, with a T-8 in Class 1A state meet (1-under 143). Third at region with 2-over 74. T-2 at district with 4-over 76.
Chloe McGrath, Bolles, Fr.
District champ with a 3-over 75. Finished T-4 at region with 3-over 75. Finished T-56 in Class 1A state tournament with 16-over 160.
Maddie Rathjen, Beachside, Sr.
T-6 in Class 2A state tournament with a 2-over 146 that helped Barracudas win team state title. Second-team All-News4JAX selection as a sophomore.
Railenne Nacional, Beachside, Sr.
T-4 at region meet with an even-par 72. Finished T-22 at 2A state tournament 13-over 157. First-team All-News4JAX selection last year.
Elle Reisner, Fernandina Beach, Fr.
T-9 at Class 2A state tournament with a 6-over 150. Went T-11 at region with a 5-over 77.
Honorable mention
Player, school, class
Carmella Carlisi, Flagler Palm Coast, Sr.
Fiona Clancy, Beachside, Jr.
Alexandra Drum, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Cambree Hodge, Fleming Island, Sr.
Stella Moritz, Ponte Vedra, So.
Anaiya Nahar, Bolles, Jr.
Kalia Polete, Fleming Island, Sr.