FORMER OAKLAND GOLFER JAKE KNEEN QUALIFIES FOR PGA TOUR
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
ROCHESTER, Mich. --Oakland men's golf alumnus, Jake Kneen, will make his PGA Tour debut at the 3M Open beginning Thursday at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota.
In Monday's qualifier, Kneen carded a 63 (-8) at Victory Links Golf Course in Blaine, Minn. to earn one of the two spots in the 3M Open. Kneen won Thursday's pre-qualifier with a score of 65 in order to advance to Monday's qualifier.
A native of White Lake, Mich., Kneen had a successful career for the Golden Grizzlies from 2014-18.
Nick Pumford, who coached Kneen at Oakland beginning in 2016, will caddy for the 24 year-old this weekend.
In 2018 he won the Michigan Open and is a two-time qualifier for the U.S. Amateur (2015 & 2018).
His mother, Wendy, was there to support him during the qualifying rounds. After finishing Monday's qualifying round first among his competitors, Kneen had to wait it out for about two hours for other's to finish.
"I told Jake to turn his phone off and let me follow the progress," Wendy said. "So Jake went to the putting green and putted. My body was shaking for nearly two hours. I was in tears when he made it, he's been working towards this since he was five years old, I want him to compete against the best, every shot."
Kneen Career Highlights
2017-18
• Named the Horizon League's Golfer of the Year
• Named to the Horizon League's All-League First Team
• Was named the Horizon League Golfer of the Week on Feb. 21 for his performance at the A10 Match Play Championship
• His 72.76 average ranked first on the team and in the league
• Placed first at the CSU Invitational (Oct. 3) carding a 214 (-1)
• Recorded seven top-20 finishes
• Placed third at the Horizon League Tournament with a total score of 219 (+6)
2016-17
• All-Horizon League second team selection
• Led the team in stroke average, 74.28, placing him 12th in history for single season stroke leaders
• Finished in the top 15 six out of 10 tournaments
2015-16
• Named All-Horizon League second team selection
• Earned all-tournament team honors after placing fifth at the Horizon League championships with a 218 (+2)
• Finished tied for a team-best 73.43 stroke average and ranked top-five in the Horizon League
2014-15
• Named Horizon League Freshman of the Year
• Led all freshman in the Horizon League and second on the team with a 75.30 stroke average
• Named Horizon League Golfer of the Week on March 23 after finishing with a 210 (-6) at the Jackrabbit Invitational (March 16-17)
• Finished T17 at the Horizon League Championship after leading round 1 with a 1-under-par 71