Kentucky golfer Cullan Brown died Tuesday, less than one year after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer in his left thigh. He was 20.
“Our hearts are simply devastated over the loss of our brother Cullan,” said Kentucky head coach Brian Craig in a release. “I have personally never known a more special or amazing young man. He was simply the most gifted person I have ever coached. He could literally do anything with excellence, but his greatest gift was the way he loved the Lord and loved people. That is a tremendous legacy to leave behind and one that will last forever within our UK golf family.”
Only weeks after Brown made the cut at the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship, finishing 10 under, the team announced that he would be stepping away from the 2019-20 season to start chemotherapy.
Brown, a native of Eddyville, Kentucky, made seven starts for the Wildcats and garnered four top-20 finishes. His opening 64 at the Mason Rudolph tied for the lowest 18-hole score in the Craig era. His 54-hole total of 206 tied for the best mark of the season.
Brown devoured books, particularly Westerns, reading as many as four each tournament trip. An excellent cook, the Wildcats looked forward to his homecooked meals on the road. In high school, the brisket he made for an FFA fundraiser was so popular that he started selling his own seasoning.
“Everybody in western Kentucky has some Cullan rub,” laughed LPGA player Emma Talley, one of Brown’s closet friends.
View this post on Instagram
Lost a best friend today. I love you Cullan. So heartbroken 
Your legacy will make a difference to so many people.
A post shared by Emma Talley (@ertalley) on Aug 4, 2020 at 7:28pm PDT
Talley and Brown grew up 10 minutes apart in western Kentucky. Eddyville has one blinking light, Talley said, while her native Princeton has four stoplights. She referred to Brown as “the mayor” because his infectious personality made him one of the area’s most cherished figures.
“He’s the most beloved kid I’ve ever had,” Craig once told Golfweek, “times 20 probably.”
All I can hope for is that my son grows up to be half the young man that Cullan was.Truly devastated to hear this and our thoughts are with he and his family.Absolutely one of the most delightful humans I have ever had the chance to meet!
https://t.co/47PqqV5L2s
— Chris Malloy (@coachmalloy12) August 5, 2020
When Brown got sick,
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By: Beth Ann Nichols
Title: Kentucky golfer Cullan Brown, 20, dies from bone cancer
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2020/08/05/amateur-college-golf-kentucky-golfer-cullan-brown-dies-bone-cancer/
Published Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2020 13:33:59 +0000