Kelly Kraft Wins Second Texas Amateur Title

Kelly Kraft captured his second Texas Amateur Championship by one shot over Garrett Driver, who finished one shot behind Kraft, marking the second year in a row that Driver finished second in the Texas Amateur.  Kraft shot 72 in the final round and finished at 3 under par.  Driver shot 74 and finished at 2 under par.  Both Kraft and Drivers fathers were at the tournament and shared their fine performance on Fathers day. (Click on any photo to enlarge it, then use your back button to return to the story)

Starting the day one shot behind, Kraft took the lead for good on the ninth hole when Driver made six on the short par four hole.  On number 9, Kraft played a safe shot to the center of the fairway then hit a short iron to six feet while Driver played an aggressive shot off the tee and wound up sixty yards short of the green but in the right rough.  Although he had a decent lie, he scooped the shot winding up in the front bunker.  Faced with a difficult shot to a back left pin he played his sand shot to the center of the green and was faced with a long par putt up over a ridge.  Three putts later Driver had dropped from a one shot lead to trail by a shot. Kraft had a chance for a three shot swing on the hole with a 6 foot birdie putt but missed it on the low side. 

Driver got back to within one shot when Kraft bogeyed 13 after missing the green to the right.  They exchanged birdies on 14.  On 15, Driver missed his tee shot to the right and wound up making six with Kraft making a regulation par, increasing his lead to two.  Kraft birdied 16 to increase his lead to three headed to 17.  However, the tournament was far from over.

Kraft missed his tee shot to the right winding up in the right rough 190 yards from the green where he played a 6 iron to the right of the green, winding up in a grass bunker with an awkward stance and a difficult lie.  His pitch wound up in a greenside sand trap and he then played an explosion shot to to 6 feet.  He missed the putt for par and settled for bogey. 

Meanwhile, Driver's second shot on 17 found the green 30 feet from the hole.  His eagle attempt was short but he made birdie and got to within one shot headed to the 18th tee.  After Driver's tee shot went through the fairway into the left rough, Kraft played a utility club to the center of the fairway and hit a 7 iron into the fringe of the 18th green, just carrying the canyon in front of the green. Driver played to the back of the green where he faced a 35 foot putt for birdie.

 After  Kraft pitched to 3 feet.  Driver's putt tracked for 30 feet and then broke slightly to the left the last fee feet, leaving him with a tap in par.   Kraft then holed the three foot putt to win the Championship.  Note that the 18th flag is the US flag and was attended by a color guard. 

Mike McCaffrey of League City finished tied for 3rd with Kolton Crawford, with both players posting 71 in the final round.   

Kraft who finished his playing eligibility at SMU will finish the summer playing amateur golf and turn professional in the fall.  Driver has one year of eligibility left at Sam Houston State, where he plays on the golf team.

Michael Cooper, shown here hitting his tee shot on 16, was the highest finisher from the Austin Area, with a tie for 13th, which earns him an exemption in next year's Texas Amateur Tournament.  Next was Scott Roudebush in 18th and Stratton Nolen in 31st.

Austin Country Club is to be congratulated for providing a fine venue for the championship.  Even though the record temperatures and high winds made playing conditions difficult, the green speed was held at about 10-11 throughout the tournament.  Congratulations to all the ACC staff for the great service in and around the clubhouse and on the course.

Click here for a link to a photo album of the final round and random shots of the tournament.

Below are the full field scores.