It wasn’t too long-ago Kayden Pendergrass was mowing the greens at Kernoustie Golf Club.
Now, the former Mustang is the king of them.
Pendergrass, who will be a senior at Central College this fall, claimed the men’s club championship at Kernoustie on Sunday, July 28.
“I have spent a lot of time on that course,” Pendergrass said. “This win is special because of Mark (Kerr) and the other members of the club have had a big impact on me.”
Pendergrass won the 27-hole event with a score of 101 strokes. He finished three strokes ahead of the field. Andy Kahl shot a 104 and was runner-up, after winning a playoff against John Rhomberg (104). Darin Vig (105) was fourth and Blake Covington (106) was fifth.
“It was a very strong field,” Kerr said. “He bested seven former champions.”
Pendergrass didn’t start playing golf much until “the summer after my freshman year,” he said. Then he started work at the golf course.
“I played a lot of golf and spent a lot of time out there,” Pendergrass said. “My main job was mowing greens, but I did some other jobs.”
It was the third time he’s played in the club championship.
His golf game has grown during his time in Pella. As a junior with the Dutch, Pendergrass averaged 79.71 strokes over 21 rounds. Central College finished third in the spring at the American Rivers Conference Championship. Pendergrass finished tied for 14th individually over three rounds at 22-over.
“I definitely saw progress in my game towards the end of spring,” Pendergrass said. “No light bulb moments, just consistent work that started to amount to some positive things.”
Pendergrass started the single-day event strong, but it was the third round where he really separated from the pack.
“I was 3-under through the first four holes,” Pendergrass said. “Three birdies. Then I had a big up-and-down on No. 5 from 30 yards off the green to keep that momentum going.”
He played the final round with Kahl and Rhomberg.
“I wasn’t thinking about anyone else and how they were playing,” Pendergrass said. “Then I might be too unfocused.”
Central opens the fall season Sept. 1 at the Transylvania Fall Invitational in Lexington, Ky. After his final year of college, Pendergrass plans to continue with golf, in some form. “I will definitely stick with it,” he said.
Also from the club championship:
· Vig won the Senior Division (50-and-over) with a score of 70.
· Kahl won the first flight with a 69. Scott Ehlts won the second flight with a 75. Chad Wollum won the third flight with an 82. Nate Nammany won the fourth flight with an 89.
· Nick Ehlts shot an opening 9-hole score of 30 for the low nine hole round of the day.
· The 5 Flag event winners were: Blake Covington, Nate Namanny, Steve Adams, Al Randall and Nick Ehlts.
· Special prize award winners went to Davey Rooks and Steve Vittetoe.