Thursdaymorning

Trip Kuehne In Command; Leads 6-Up After 18 Holes Of The Mid-Amateur Final

Bandon, Ore. – Trip Kuehne, 35, of Irving, Texas, moved within 18 holes of finally having his dream come true – to be the winner of a national amateur golf championship. Kuehne currently holds a 6-up lead over Dan Whitaker, 26, of Cle Elum, Wash., after the first 18 holes of the 36-hole U.S. Mid-Amateur final match at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

“I just want to keep doing what I’m doing,” said Kuehne, who had been trying for 13 years to reach the final of a second USGA championship. “I’m just going to try to make pars and take a shot at birdie when I get it.”

Kuehne made four birdies in the morning round over the par-72, 6,988-yard Bandon Dunes layout, including three for winners in the last six holes. He shot the equivelant of 4-under-par 68 for the morning round.

Kuehne jumped out to an early lead, winning four consecutive holes to stand 4 up after the six holes. Whitaker’s troubles started with a poor tee shot on the third hole. He also had poor tee shots on the next three holes. He got a bit closer with a birdie from 15 feet on the eighth hole.

Kuehne rebounded to go 5 up with back-to-back wins on holes 12 and 13. Whitaker won the 14th with a birdie to gain a hole back before Kuehne won with birdies on holes 16 and 18. He rolled in an eight-footer on 16 and two-putted for birdie at the par-5 18th.

When Kuehne lost to Tiger Woods in the 1994 U.S. Amateur final, he was 4 up at the lunch break. Woods came back to win, 2 up.

Kuehne has held the dream of winning a USGA title ever since. He even changed his mind about professional golf, choosing to stay a career amateur and start an investments business. His younger brother, Hank, won the 1998 Amateur and his younger sister, Kelli, won back-to-back U.S. Women’s Amateurs.

The Mid-Amateur, for those age 25 and older, is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the U.S. Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

Story written by Craig Smith, USGA director of media relations

Championship Facts

PAR AND YARDAGE – The Bandon Dunes course is set to play at 6,966 yards and par 36-36—72. The Bandon Trails course, which will be utilized as the second course for the stroke play portion of the Championship (two rounds), is set up at 6,857 yards with a par of 36-35—71.

ARCHITECTS OF THE COURSES – Bandon Dunes was the first of the three golf courses designed at the resort. The course was designed by Scotsman David McLay Kidd and it was opened in 1999. The Bandon Trails course was the last of the three to open for play. The Trails course was designed by the team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. It was opened in 2005.

MID-AM ON THE WEB – For scores, groupings, and the latest U.S. Mid-Amateur information, log on to the USGA Internet site at www.usga.org/championships/. Real-time scoring will be available via the championship web site at www.usmidam.org.

WHO CAN PLAY – Amateur golfers who will have reached their 25^th birthday on or before Sept. 29, and who have a USGA Handicap Index® not exceeding 3.4, are eligible.

ENTRIES – The USGA accepted 4,426 entries for the 2007 championship. The record of 5,271 entries was set in 1997.

QUALIFYING – Sectional qualifying for the U.S. Mid-Amateur was conducted from Aug. 27-Sept. 7 at 67 sites.

THE FIELD – The starting field will consist of 264 golfers. Each golfer will play a single round on each of the two golf courses before the field is trimmed to the low 64 scorers, who will advance to match play on the Bandon Dunes course.


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