Around the Green

Griffins and Keltings Win Texas Father-Son

Briefly:  Matt and Will Griffin of San Antonio and Kyle and Derick Kelting of Amarillo were crowned Texas Father-Son co-champions at Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa’s Fazio Foothills on Sunday. Both teams finished the tournament at 12-under-par 276, and due to current TGA health and safety guidelines, championship playoffs are not being conducted. With the victory, the Griffins have joined the short list of father-son duos to have three titles to their name. The Keltings, who were playing in their first Texas Father-Son, add this victory to their decorated amateur golf resumes.

Leaderboard: Championship Flight  
T1) Griffin / Griffin                    San Antonio, San Antonio       63-68-145 — 276
T1) Kelting / Kelting                 Amarilo, Amarillo                     66-68-142 — 276
3) Reynolds / Reynolds           Austin, Austin                           68-71-149 — 288
4) Lindberg / Lindberg             Coppell, Coppell                       69-69-152 — 290
5) Jones / Jones                      Magnolia, Houston                    68-71-152 — 291

Final Results

Championship Flight Update: In the final round, the top-half of the Championship Flight played combined score. This format adds extreme difficulty and pressure to both players on the team. In other words, every shot counts.

The Griffins, who won the Texas Father-Son in 2011 and 2019, began the day three-shots ahead of Kyle (father) and Derick. Early into the final round, the championship became a two-team race for the title.

“We knew from the first hole on that these guys were good,” Matt Griffin (father) said. “We knew we had our hands full. They played great on the front nine and got a little bit of a lead on us.”

The Kelting’s carded five birdies as a team on their opening loop, and the only dropped shot was a bogey from Kyle on the par-4 first. The combined score of 4-under-par 68 gave them a one-shot lead heading into the closing nine.

“We have played so much golf together that basically we play our own golf game,” Kyle said. “We just tried to play our own game and not get caught up in the moment.”

The back nine was a dual. Both teams fired punch for punch. Will, who won the 2005 Texas Junior Amateur at Fazio Foothills, birdied three of his first five holes on the back side. The Griffins seemed in control, but back-to-back double bogeys on the par-5 15th and par-4 16th from Matt opened the door once again for the Keltings.

Derick birdied the par-3 17th to regain a share of the lead. On the par-5 18th, all four players carded pars and finished both teams at 12-under-par 276 for the championship.

“Both my dad and I made clutch putts on the last hole,” Will said. “As the match went on and we started to put some heat on them they continued to hit good shots. It was a great battle down the stretch.”

This is the first time in Texas Father-Son history for two teams to share the title. Despite being crowned co-champions, the Griffins and Keltings were honored to come away victorious.

“It was a lot of really good competition,” Derick said. “We felt like we had been there before, but to have that title on it, the Texas Father-Son, that means a lot.”

The Griffins join the Gills and Doughties as the only teams in the tournament’s 40-year history to have three Father-Son titles.

“I love this tournament, I love the way you all host it and I love playing with my son,” Matt said. “I guess this means another 10-year exemption, so I’m looking forward to a lot more of it.”

Peach and Jay Reynolds of Austin finished third at even-par 288. Mark and Andrew Lindberg of Coppell finished fourth at 2-over-par 290, while David and Jordan Jones of Magnolia/Houston rounded out the top-5 at 3-over-par 291.

Presidents Flight Update: Following Round 2, the Championship Flight was cut to the top-19 and ties. The remaining 17 teams made up the Presidents Flight for the final round. While the Championship Flight played combined score, the Presidents Flight continued playing four-ball.

And much like the overall Championship Flight, it was a battle to the finish line.

Jeff and Nathan Haley of Richmond carded a final round 1-under-par 71 to hold off Greg and Ryan Grider of Lewisville, Pat and Luke Youngs of San Antonio as well as John and Brandon Immel of Dallas/Fort Worth by one stroke. With a victory in the Presidents Flight, the Haley’s earn an automatic exemption into next year’s Texas Father-Son.

Net Flights Update: In the Hogan Flight, Garon and Chris Goodspeed of Austin/Farmers Branch fired a final round 7-under-par 65 highlighted by a closing birdie on the par-5 18th. Their final putt of the championship was enough to claim the victory over Joe and Joey Quirk of Richardson by one stroke. The Goodspeeds finished at 18-under-par 198.

Trey Rowe and Randy Mattingley of Argyle/Flower Mound continued to play solid golf on Sunday to win the Nelson Flight by four strokes. They carded rounds of 67-67-68 to post 14-under-par 202. Darrell and Tim Bowe of Houston/Allen finished second at 10-under-par 206.

In the Crenshaw Flight, Aaron and Jamey Freisleben of Spring/Montgomery carded a 2-under-par 70 to post 10-under for the tournament and clinch the title over Mike and Chip Block of Houston/Kingwood by one stroke.

In the Kite Flight, Jacob and Ashley Hunter of Coppell fired a closing 4-under-par 68 to finish at 14-under for the championship and win by one stroke. Andre and Adam Villarrial of Waco/Midlothian earned runner-up honors at 13-under-par 203.

Golf Course: Originally opened in 1987, Fazio Foothills is the signature track at the recently renovated Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa. It was designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio and is one of four championship courses at the resort. The 7,125-yard layout was renovated in 2004 and again in 2017, as part of Omni Hotels and Resort’s $150 million renovation of its Austin, Texas property. The two-year project included a second hotel tower, a new conference center, outdoor event pavilion, new dining venues, a spa and renovations on all four championship golf courses. Fazio Foothills offers dramatic elevation change and spectacular views. The fairways and greens are protected by cliffs, creeks and waterfalls which showcase the best of the Texas Hill Country. Known for its demanding tee shots and small greens, Fazio Foothills was recently named the No. 3 course you can play in Texas by Golf Magazine and 37th overall in the state by the Dallas Morning News. The pure test of golf has played host to various elite events over the years including the 2019 PGA Cup and the Champions Tour Legends of Golf tournament from 1990-1994.

Weather: The temperature reached 105 degrees with a light breeze around 6 mph out of the south.

What’s Next: The 2020 season continues with the West Texas Amateur at Bentwood Country Club in San Angelo from July 17-19. You can view the entire Texas Golf Association Competitions Calendar here.

More Info: The Texas Golf Association extends its sincere appreciation to Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa and our volunteers for their integral part in making the Texas Father-Son a memorable and successful event. For more information on the Texas Father-Son, click here.