BANDON, Ore. (AP) — Trip Kuehne won his first U.S. Golf Association title, routing Dan Whitaker 9 and 7 in the U.S. Mid-Amateur at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.
The 35-year-old Kuehne, best known for losing a 6-up lead after 13 holes in a 2-up loss to Tiger Woods in the 1994 U.S. Amateur final, won four of the first six holes and was 5 under in a bogey-free 29 holes.
``It's been a long journey. One that started 13 years ago,'' said Kuehne, who earned a spot in the 2008 Masters. ``I got the job done this time. It doesn't get any better than this. It truly is a dream come true. I thought this day would never come.''
Kuehne, from Irving, Texas, is the older brother of LPGA Tour player Kelli Kuehne and PGA Tour player Hank Kuehne - both USGA champions. Kelli Kuehne won the 1995 and 1996 U.S. Women's Amateur titles, and Hank Kuehne won the 1998 U.S. Amateur.
The 26-year-old Whitaker, from Cle Elum, Wash., was making his first appearance in the tournament for players 25 and older.
``He made par after par after par and it was tough to catch him,'' the long-hitting Whitaker said. ``It still was an awesome week. To get this far at this level is something I've not done before.''
