Denton's Kraft Wins Trans-Miss Am

Two-time Texas Amateur champion Kelly Kraft from Denton added some new hardware to his collection Thursday by winning the 108th Trans-Mississippi Amateur.


Kelly Kraft won the Trans-Miss
Am with a final round 66.
(Photo: Trans-Miss GA)

Kraft shot a final round 66 at Kansas City Country Club in Kansas City, Mo., to win by four shots with 14-under-par 266. Read about Kraft's historic repeat victory at the Texas Amateur in the current issue of DFW Links and Houston Links magazines.

University of Texas junior Dylan Frittelli finished in a tie for second place with Oklahoma State freshman Tanner Kesterson from Plano. Frittelli and Kesterson finished the 72-hole championship at 10-under par 270.

Four birdies and a bogey allowed Kraft to make the turn in the final round at 3-under 32 on the course where World Golf Hall of Fame member and eight-time major champion Tom Watson grew up. Kraft birdied Nos. 13 and 14 to get to 15-under, but a bogey on No. 16 narrowed his margin over Fritelli and Kesterson.

Kraft, who played his college golf at SMU, steadied himself and parred in to win the prestigious amateur championship.

In June, Kraft shot 3-under 285 at Pete Dye’s gorgeous Austin Country Club to hold off Humble’s Garrett Driver at the 102nd Texas Amateur. Kraft also won the 2008 Texas Amateur at Houston Country Club. He joined the likes of Scott Verplank, Mark Brooks, Chip Stewart and Gus Moreland as multiple-time winners of the H.L. Edwards Memorial Trophy.

- Mark Button, Texas Links Magazines