Kendrick Vinar (Texas Golf Association Photo)
Kendrick Vinar of Richardson was crowned champion at the 41st Texas Mid-Amateur. Vinar carded rounds of 67-67-70 for a total of 204, winning the title by four shots.
“It feels amazing,” Vinar said. “It’s a lot of relief, honestly. It’s hard to win these tournaments, and I’m very lucky to come out on top of a great field of competitors.”
Vinar faced tough weather conditions throughout the final round. Winds of 15 mph and gusts reaching 20 mph made ball striking critical.
“The conditions today were tougher and got a little worse each day,” Vinar said. “I’m not sure what the scoring average was, but it was probably a bit more difficult with the wind and the firmness of the greens.”
With only five bogeys over 54 holes, Vinar secured his third consecutive under-par round to become the 41st Texas Mid-Amateur champion.
“My game wasn’t quite where I wanted it, but I was just hanging on and made some key scrambles on the back nine to keep my round going,” Vinar said.
Entering the final round with a four-shot lead, Vinar sought his first Texas Golf Association title amidst challenging conditions.
“I had a 12-footer for par on No. 15 that I knew was key,” Vinar said. “Cal, who was in my group, was making a push at that point. Then I hit a nice tee shot on the par-3 No. 16 and two-putted for par. I made a birdie on No. 17, which was a bonus, and at that point, I was pretty sure I could get into the clubhouse.”
Vinar did just that, capturing his first Texas Golf Association title and a major championship.
With the win, Vinar earns an exemption into the 42nd Texas Mid-Amateur presented by Hytera US at Champions Golf Club – Cypress Course in Houston next fall.
Charlie Holland, a past Texas Amateur champion, finished as the runner-up with rounds of 72-68-68 for a total of 208, climbing seven spots on the final day.
Tied for third were Niko Martinez of Cypress and Rashid Salem of Westlake. Martinez shot 71-69-69 for 209, while Salem, who was recognized as the low Mid-Master, posted 67-71-71. As low Mid-Master, Salem finished best in the field among players over the age of 40 years old this week.
In fifth place was Cal Clyde V of Houston, the 2024 Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play champion. Clyde, competing in his first Texas Golf Association major in 12 years, shot 69-69-72 to finish at 210.
Austin Jordan of Nemo and Gant Bills of Plano, a top-five finisher at last year’s 40th Texas Mid-Amateur, tied for sixth with scores of 2-under 211.
Rounding out the top 10 in a tie for eighth were Kolton Crawford of Azle, multi-Texas Golf Association champion Aaron Hickman of Tyler, and Marcus Jones of Argyle, a member of the host Denton Country Club. The trio finished at 1-under 212.
View results for Texas Mid-Amateur
ABOUT THE
Texas Mid-Amateur
Eligibility: Entries are open to male golfers
with a
USGA Handicap index of 8.4 or less, and who
are
25 years of age or older by the first day of
championship qualifying.
Format/Field Size: 54 holes of stroke play. At the
completion of 36 holes the field is cut to the low 54
players and ties. The field is limited to 132 players.
Mid-Master Recognition: In addition to the overall
champion, an award will be given to the low Mid-
Master finisher. (Mid-Master – any player 40+ years
of age)
View Complete Tournament Information