Kennett’s Keeling goes low in #GAPMidAm

Andrew Keeling said he’s “just a guy who loves golf.” An unassuming young soul who calls Kennett Square Golf & Country Club home and visits the course daily to work on his game.

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Spurred on by a reliable driver and clutch putter, the 27-year-old GAP newcomer stunned the 36^th Middle-Amateur Championship field at Rolling Green Golf Club (par 70, 6,780 yards) by carding the lowest opening-round score in the event’s history, a 5-under-par 65. That record-setting performance gives the Kennett Square, Pa. resident a two-stroke advantage heading into Thursday’s second and final round.

With possible inclement weather, there will be a two-tee start beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Will Davenport of Whitemarsh Valley Country Club, in his first Mid.-Am, and Jeff Osberg of Pine Valley Golf Club are tied in second place at 3 under.

The final grouping of Keeling, Davenport and Osberg begins on No. 1 at 9:20 a.m.

The cut line fell at 9 over with 72 players advancing.

Defending champion Michael Hyland of Little Mill Country Club carded a 2-over 72 and is tied for ninth. This was Hyland’s first competitive event since lumbar discectomy surgery on March 15.

“I’m just a guy who loves golf [and] had a record day for myself,” said Keeling of posting his lowest career score. “My goal was to get a Top 15. I thought it was out there. The course is playing to my strong suits with me putting well. I think I hit every fairway with my driver today, so when you have that and a wedge in, it shouldn’t be all that tough.”

Keeling, who made the cut in last year’s Mid.-Am. on the number, stated his intentions early and often.

He started the day on No. 1 (par 4, 417 yards) by jarring a 50-degree wedge from 120 yards for an eagle two. He added a second red figure on No. 5 (par 4, 418 yards) with a 10-foot birdie and then, on No. 7 (par 5, 520 yards), knocked a 5-iron from 200 yards onto the green before eventually converting a five-footer for birdie. He turned in 4 under.

On the challenging No. 10 (par 3, 237 yards), Keeling drained a six-foot par save to keep his round going before adding to his total on No. 11 (par 4, 431 yards). He rapped a 54-degree wedge from 115 yards to 20 feet and made the putt to go 5 under.

His lone blemish came soon thereafter on No. 14 (par 3, 203 yards) when he missed the green short and made bogey but he responded a few holes later on the reachable No. 17 (par 5, 501 yards) when Keeling launched a 6-iron from 190 yards to 40 feet and two-putted for birdie.

“My driver is usually my strong point and I usually struggle with the short game stuff,” said Keeling. “I’ve tried to spend more time putting this year. My ball striking has kind of stayed where it’s been for a long time, but my putting has really come around. I’ve been working on distance control a lot this year and it’s really paying off well with the wedges.”

Keeling missed four greens in his round. He made two sand saves and got up-and-down three out of four times, the lone miss coming on the aforementioned 14^th.

Davenport, 26, of Philadelphia, Pa., just completed his first year in The Wharton School MBA Program. The Palm City, Fla. native made a birdie and eagle in his final five holes to shoot up the leaderboard. Finishing on the front nine, Davenport drained a 30-foot eagle on No. 7 to get to 3 under.

Osberg, a two-time William Hyndman, III Player of the Year, is a Middle-Amateur victory short of completing the career grand slam. He thrusted himself into the fray with three straight birdies on Nos. 15-17. On No. 15 (par 4, 380 yards), he knocked a 9-iron from 135 yards to four feet for birdie; on No. 16 (par 3, 162 yards), clipped an 8-iron that stopped just a roll or two shy of going in; and on No. 17, ripped a 6-iron from 195 yards to 50 feet and two putted for birdie.

“Obviously I want to win all of them,” said Osberg, 34, of Bryn Mawr, Pa. “It’s extremely important for me to play well in this event and hopefully today put me in contention for tomorrow.”

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The Association’s 274 Full Member Clubs and 75,000 individual members are spread across the Eastern half of Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and Delaware. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.