Having a 66.7 success rate in professional golf is not common. It’s rarefied air. Yet it’s what Ben Kern has accomplished in his brief PGA Championship career.
The 41-year-old PGA of America Golf Professional has not only made the cut in two of his three appearances in the PGA Championship, he lifted the low PGA of America Golf Professional crystal trophy at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia on May 17 – for the second time (also in 2018).
Not bad for someone who often only plays 18 holes a week.
“It’s very special,” said Kern, General Manager at Hickory Hills Golf Club in Grove City, Ohio. “Once I got into the business, it was a goal to get out here and play in this kind of event. It’s very special to be in this field and then to walk away with Low Club Pro, it’s everything.
“It proves to myself that I can hang with these guys when I’m playing solid.”
Kern finished his awesome Aronimink run in 80th place after rounds of 74-67-77-72, earning almost $24,000. He also was Low PGA of America Golf Professional at Bellerive Country Club outside St. Louis in 2018 when he was T42, and missed the cut three years ago at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.
At Aronimink, where birdies were harder to find than balls in the deep, thick-bladed rough, Kern relied on his superb shot-making to reach the weekend after a superb 3-under 67 in the second round. He was tied for the most birdies in the first two rounds (nine).
“That’s wild,” Kern said. “Very cool.”
Kern made five of those birdies in a seven-hole stretch in the second round that started with a 30-foot bomb at the difficult par-3 17th hole. He parred the 18th, made the turn and birdied the first three holes, bogeyed the fourth, then birdied the fifth.
“Any birdie around this place, I don’t care what hole it is, it’s nice,” Kern said. “To go on that run, 1, 2, 3, slip up a little bit on 4, and then get right back on track on 5 allowed me to just keep cruising to finish my round.”
Fans may just be learning about Kern’s abilities, but it’s well known among his fellow PGA of America Professionals. Bob Sowards, who has won a record nine PGA Professional Player of the Year awards, was asked in January why he and Kern have collected almost a half-dozen team titles together.
“Because I’m playing with the best PGA Professional in the country,” Sowards said without hestitation.
Kern attempted to play professionally for six years after attending Kansas State University, but grew tired of the grueling schedule, got married and was elected to PGA of America Membership. He has no regrets.
“I am not one to want to practice all the time, so the week-in, week-out grind doesn’t really appeal to me anymore,” Kern said. “I’m very happy with what I’m doing.”
He also made the wise decision to have Hickory Hills Club President Randy Wachtel caddie for him at Aronimink. Talk about taking care of your boss.
“It’s the reason why I got off work to be here,” Kern chuckled.
He does try to play once a week with his members, where the conversations for a while will no doubt center around another memorable PGA Championship Week for Kern.
As Meat Loaf once crooned, two out of three ain’t bad. —Craig Dolch
