‘PHENOMENAL’

Published 3:40 am Saturday, August 4, 2018

TEXAS STATE OPEN | THE CASCADES

Last week, Ben Kern didn’t know if he would be playing in the Texas State Open.

Not only did the Georgetown Country Club pro get to play, but on Friday he was embracing his 3-year-old daughter Emma on the 18th green in celebrating a victory at The Cascades Golf & Country Club.

Kern played steady golf on Friday and held off the challengers down the stretch en route to capturing the $205,000 48th Tanos Exploration II/Patterson-UTI Drilling Texas State Open.

“This was the biggest tournament I have honestly ever played in, and then to win the biggest tournament I have ever played in was phenomenal,” Kern said. “To have my little girl run up to me on the last hole was the best moment of my life. To win this tournament, it’s huge. I don’t have words, and it’s awesome to have my family here.”

Kern posted bookend 70s with rounds of 64 and 62 in between for a 14-under 266 to win by two strokes over Andrew Paysse, of Temple, who was making his pro debut. Paysse, who recently graduated from Texas A&M University, earned Low Amateur honors last year. Paysse put pressure on Kern by carding an 8-under 62 during the final round and was waiting in the clubhouse with a 12-under 268. Paysse won $22,500.

Kern not only won the tournament to take home the $42,500 check, but for the second straight year he captured Low Club pro honors, thus winning two silver trophies.

The former Kansas State University golfer missed the deadline for entry in the tournament and had to wait until an exempt player dropped out, Mark Harrison, NTPGA executive director and CEO, said. Once that happened, Kern gained entry and the chance to play in his fourth straight TSO.

Now Kern has momentum as he will be competing as one of 20 PGA club professionals in the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club near St. Louis.

He will be teeing off at 2:27 p.m. Thursday, along with the Bridgestone Invitational winner and Ryuko Tokimatsu of Japan.

El Paso’s Michael Salazar, who will be a junior at Grand Canyon University in the fall, earned Low Amateur honors with a 10-under 270 (67-71-62-70), finishing in a tie for fifth overall with 2009 TSO champion Mikel Martinson of Arlington. He played the last two years at Midland College.

“Coming into this tournament, I wasn’t really too sure what I was going to get out of what I played,” Salazar said. “(This was) my first professional tournament you can say, and after the first two rounds I knew I was in contention. Then after the third round I played really well and knew I was right there, so it’s a great feeling knowing I can keep up with these guys.”

Dallas’ Charlie Holland, a former University of Texas golfer, had a final round of 63 to bolt up the leaderboard and tie for third with Mansfield’s Kolton Crawford, former player for the University of Arkansas. Both carded 11-under 269.

Harrison complimented The Cascades, their staff and three individuals who were

instrumental in the TSO returning to Tyler — Rick Maxey, Jerry Irwin and Steve Braley. He said the NTPGA had missed the hospitality of East Texas.

Both sponsors are solid corporate citizens of East Texas with Tanos Exploration II, a Tyler-based firm, and Houston-based Patterson-UTI having a regional office in Tyler. The presenting sponsors were Joyce Crane and Veritex Bank.

The 72-hole, stroke play event began with 156 contestants. Following 36 holes, the field was cut to the low 55 scores and ties as 59 players survived the cut.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation’s scholarship program with the creation of the Tanos Exploration II/Patterson-UTI Drilling Texas State Open Scholarship. Emma French, of Bullard, was awarded the $5,000 scholarship, Harrison said.

This year, the NTPGA Junior Golf Foundation awarded $307,500 in scholarships to 44 high school seniors from North Texas.