Kern Drives For World Golf Title

Kade Kern won his age group at the Michigan World Championship Regional Qualifier, and advanced to the World Championship tournament, Aug. 6-9. Inset: Kern with his regional championship medal.- photos by Mary Huber Kade Kern's favorite professional golfer is Tiger Woods.

The eight-year-old gets a chance to play the same tournament Woods won when he was younger after qualifying for the 2009 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship.

Kade, son of Keith and Kim Kern, Archbold, won the boys seven-year-old age group title at the Michigan World Championship Regional Qualifier, Wednesday, June 24, at East Lansing, Mich.

The tournament is for boys and girls 14 and under.

Qualifying

To qualify for the World Championship, the player must have golfed a score of 55 or better at his home course. Kade's home course is in Wauseon.

Then the player is eligible to enter a regional qualifier tournament. Last year, he finished third in the age six-and-under age group in a regional qualifier in Columbus.

At the regional, a player has to win his age group and shoot a pre-set score or lower to qualify for the World Championship. Kade had to shoot a 46 or better at East Lansing; he shot a 39, nine strokes better than the second-place finisher on the par-36, nine-hole, 1,500-yard course.

Keith said between 100-120 players will be in Kade's age group at the World Championship at Pinehurst, N.C.

Pinehurst has also been the site of past U.S. Open professional golf tournaments. Approximately half of the players will be from the United States, and half will be from other countries.

Instead of just one round, Kade will golf three. Each day's scores are added together to determine the winners.

Keith will caddy for his son.

Golfing All His Life

Kade has been a golfer almost all of his life. He received a plastic set of golf clubs when he was six months old, and has played on golf courses with his dad since he was three.

"He just picked up a club, and he could hit the ball the first time he tried it," said Keith. "He just had a knack for it."

Is Kade better than his dad?

"No," Kade said. But his dad said compared to when he was Kade's age, "he's better than me, that's for sure."

Kade doesn't just play golf. The Archbold second-grader also likes football, soccer, and baseball.

Why is golf fun for him?

Among other things, "I like trying to beat my (previous) score," said Kade, who almost hit a hole-in-one at the regional qualifier. Using a 5-iron, his drive ended about one foot away from the cup on a 100-yard, par- 3 hole.

The U.S. Kids Golf World Championship is scheduled for Aug. 6-9. The boys sevenyear old age group will play the back nine at the Mid Pines Golf Course, a 1700-yard course.