PGA Tour Pro Wins 59th Mini Tour Event with 10-Under 61

Eric Cole is ready for the FedEx Cup Fall season after a big win on the Minor Golf League.

On Tuesday, he played in the Abacoa September Classic, a one-day event at Abacoa Golf Club in Florida. Competing against 48 others, Cole showed his skills early with a five-under 30 on the front nine and a 31 on the back nine, finishing at an impressive 10-under. He beat Korn Ferry Tour pro Dan McCarthy by two strokes.

This marked Cole’s 59th victory on the Minor Golf League. His performance included an eagle on the 10th hole and eight birdies . But it wasn’t about money; he earned just $1,333 from this win. For him, it’s all about boosting confidence as he heads into key months of competition.

Cole had an amazing breakout year in 2023, earning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors. However, despite making more starts than anyone else this season—29 to be exact—he hasn’t quite found last year’s form. He’s dropped from being ranked 39th in the world to 52nd.

Upcoming Challenges:

Recently though, he’s shown signs of improvement with top-10 finishes in events like the Rocket Mortgage Classic and John Deere Classic. Fans might think he’s getting back to his best just in time for the FedEx Cup Fall schedule that includes eight tournaments.

His journey through this year’s FedEx Cup Playoffs ended at the BMW Championship where he finished T46. This placed him at 50th in the standings, securing his entry into next season’s major events. Next up is next week’s Procore Championship at Silverado.

Cole will also be keeping an eye on his world ranking. He’s currently just two spots below what he needs to qualify for the 2025 Masters by year-end. A first PGA Tour win during this fall series would guarantee his spot; otherwise, a strong finish could do it too.

With his recent success at Abacoa behind him, Cole heads confidently into California’s event next week aiming to achieve his goals for this year.

What do you think? Will Eric Cole make it to the Masters?