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cavalier profile Ben Kohles Alum • Golf The fact Virginia alum Ben Kohles ('12) earned his PGA Tour card is one thing. The way he earned it is another. A three-time All-American at Virginia, where he twice was named ACC Player of the Year, Kohles became the first player sans prior professional tournament experience to win his pro debut — on the Web.com Tour — when he captured the 2012 Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational in a playoff over Luke Guthrie in Columbus, Ohio. Kohles, who turned pro in July of last year, finished eighth on the money list with earnings of $303,397 that earned him his Tour Card because he wound up in the top 25. As if to prove that victory wasn't a fluke, Kohles won the following week at the Cox Classic when he shot a final round of 62 to take the title by three shots. Kohles thus became only the 12th player in Tour history to post consecutive wins, but just the seventh to do it in consecutive weeks. He also reached the $200,000 mark in season earnings faster than any player in Tour history. "When I first left amateur golf, I was scrambling around hoping I could get into a Monday qualifying round on the Nationwide Tour," Kohles told The Raleigh News & Observer. "It's amazing how much my life has changed." So far this season, Kohles has made the cut in two of the four tournaments he's entered. His best finish was a tie for 41st at the Sony Open in Hawaii where he shot a 7-under-par 273 at the Waiale Country Club and earned a paycheck worth $19,608. Entering the last week in February, Kohles ranked 23rd in driving accuracy (65.9 percent) and was averaging 70.1 strokes per round. At the Humana Challenge, he finished 10-under and tied for 79th. "There is room for improvement," Kohles said. "Right now, I'm trying to get a little bit better every day. "I've won an event at every level I've played and, obviously, I'd like to do it again." — Mike Scandura ◆ Photo by Matt Riley/courtesy UVa