Around the Green

Kelting’s Three-Peat as Texas Father-Son Champions

Wichita Falls — Derick and Kyle Kelting of Dallas/Amarillo were crowned Texas Father-Son champions for the third year in a row at Wichita Falls Country Club. The Kelting’s edged out Boerne’s Price and Chris Hill by one shot to secure the victory.

Results: Championship Division
1) Kelting, Kyle / Kelting, Derick (Amarillo / Dallas) 64-65-145 – 274 (-10)
2) Hill, Chris / Hill, Price (Boerne) 63-64-148 – 275 (-9)
T3) Starks, Garrett / Starks, Larry (Dallas) 63-68-143 – 278 (-6)
T3) Lindberg, Andrew / Lindberg, Mark (Coppell / Irving) 67-64-147 – 278 (-6)

Click here for full results

Championship Flight:   For the final round, the top-half of the Championship Flight played combined score. This format puts more dependency on each player of the team.

The Kelting’s shot a combined 3-over in Sunday’s final round to finish at 10-under 274 total for the championship. Derick (son) fired a final round even-par 71 while Kyle (father) carded a 3-over round of 74.  

“Well, it wasn’t easy for starters,” Kyle said. “For me personally, off the box it was probably about as good as I could drive the ball for three days, but I struggled on these greens.”

The duo was crowned co-champions of the 2020 Father-Son at Omni Barton Hills – Fazio Foothills. They followed that up with a win at the 2021 Father-Son in a playoff at Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin. With targets on their backs, the Kelting’s delivered again this year to capture a third consecutive championship.

“I know in this format (combined score) that avoiding those big numbers is critical,” Derick said. “That’s something we have learned these last two years, so I just tried to make a bunch of pars and give myself a few looks at birdies. A lot of pars will never hurt you in this format.”

It’s the duo’s third time to play in the event, but no youth has been shown. Three appearances and three wins.

“We’ve played in partnerships before and we’ve had a lot of success,” Kyle said. “I trust Derick on his judgement and golf game, and he trusts me. We’ve just played with each other so much. This is a big one for us and we wanted to win it.”

Boerne’s Chris and Price Hill finished runner-up after a combined 6-over 148. Price shot an even-par 71 while Chris carded a 6-over 77.

Larry and Garrett Starks of Dallas finished in a tie for third with Andrew and Mark Lindberg of Coppell/Irving at 6-under 278 total for the championship.

Presidents Flight: Following Round 2, the Championship Flight was cut to the top-18. The remaining 19 teams made up the Presidents Flight for the final round. The Championship Flight played combined score and the Presidents Flight continued playing four-ball.

Dallas natives John and John Stollenwerck carded a final round 6-under 65 to win the flight by three strokes over Bob and Ryan Neal of Mansfield/McKinney. With the victory the Stollenwerck’s earn an automatic exemption into next year’s Texas Father-Son.

Net Flights: Charles and Nick Archer of Rockwall/Rowlett were able to repeat as champions of the Hogan Flight via a final round 5-under 66. The duo finished at 23-under for the championship which was good for a three shot victory over Justin Blackledge and Wes Welch of Midland/Lufkin.

In the Nelson Flight, Wichita Falls’ own Braden and David Norris earned a wire to wire victory with a final round 4-under 67.

In the Crenshaw Flight, Mason and Thomas Cruickshank cruised to a 16 shot victory after a final round 11-under 60. The Richmond natives finished at 29-under for the championship.

Co-Champions were crowned in the Kite Flight. Levelland’s Chad and Hunter Read tied with Plano’s Tim and Ted Watson at 12-under 201 total to share the honors.

Course: Wichita Falls Country Club is hosting the Father-Son for the second time. The course was completely renovated and redesigned in 2008 by D.A. Weibring and Steve Wolfard. The last time the Father-Son was at Wichita Falls Country Club was in 2003, which saw Tom and Will Doughtie win the event for the third year in a row. The par-71 course played at 6,678 yards for the championship division and 6,194 yards for the net division in the final round.

Tournament History: The Father-Son is in its 42nd year on the TGA schedule. The tournament is a 54-hole event with players competing in net and gross divisions. Each year it is one of the most highly anticipated events on the schedule and the field fills up just minutes after opening for registration.

What’s Next:  The 2022 season continues with the 94^th West Texas Amateur at Odessa Country Club on July 15-17.

For More information about the Father-Son Championship, click here.