Frank Kennedy (born 2 October 2005) is an English professional golfer who currently plays on the Challenge Tour, where he won the 2024 Euram Bank Open.[1] Prior to turning professional in 2023, aged 17, he won the 2022 Portuguese International Amateur Championship[2] and the 2023 Lytham Trophy.[3] In 2021, aged 15, he became the youngest player from Great Britain & Ireland to make the cut at a European Tour event at the Hero Open.[4]
| Frank Kennedy | |
|---|---|
 Kennedy at the British Masters in 2023. | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 2 October 2005 |
| Sporting nationality |  England |
| Residence | Jupiter, Florida, U.S. |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 2023 |
| Current tour(s) | Challenge Tour |
| Professional wins | 1 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| Challenge Tour | 1 |
Amateur career
editKennedy's first significant victory came in the 2016 Doral Publix Junior Classic in the 10/11 age group at Trump National Doral, in Miami, Florida.[5] He won the U. S. Kids Golf British Championship in consecutive years in 2016 and 2017.[6] He won the Wee Wonders Grand Final at St Andrews Scotland in 2018.[6] In 2019, aged 13, he won the Irish U14 Open Championship and was runner-up in the Irish U16 Open Championship in the same year.[7] In 2020, he won the Junior Honda Classic at PGA National Resort in Florida.[6] Kennedy became a member of the England Golf boys squad and within 12 months graduated to the men's squad aged 15 years.[8] In 2021, he won the George Henriques Salver award for the highest placed Great Britain & Ireland player under the age of 20 in the Brabazon Trophy (aged 15).[9] In 2022, he became the youngest winner of the Portuguese International Amateur Championship with a championship record score of 19 under par.[2] In 2022, he was a member of the England Golf boys squad that took the silver medal in the European Boys' Team Championship at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, Germany[10] and later that year represented Great Britain & Ireland in the Jacques Léglise Trophy.[11]
In 2023, Kennedy won the Lytham Trophy, becoming the joint youngest winner in the tournament's history aged 17.[3] He took third place The Amateur Championship in 2023 after losing to the eventual winner.[12] He turned professional at age 17, ranked 41st in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.[13]
Professional career
editKennedy made his professional debut at the 2023 British Masters at The Belfry and made the cut, eventually finishing in 65th place.[14] During 2023, he played on the Challenge Tour, European Tour and Asian Tour and achieved his first top-10 finish when he placed 7th at the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club aged 18 years.[15]
In 2024, Kennedy secured his first victory as a professional after winning the Euram Bank Open on the Challenge Tour, making him the third youngest winner in Challenge Tour history.[1]
Coaches and mentors
editKennedy spends a lot of time in Florida at his Jupiter base where he is coached by Brad Faxon and Jim McLean.
Amateur wins
edit- 2022 Portuguese International Amateur Championship
- 2023 Lytham Trophy
Source:[16]
Professional wins (1)
editChallenge Tour wins (1)
edit| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 Jul 2024 | Euram Bank Open | −13 (65-66-65-71=267) | 1 stroke |  Nicolai von Dellingshausen
|
Team appearances
edit- European Boys' Team Championship (representing England): 2022
- Jacques Léglise Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 2022
References
edit- ^ a b "Teen sensation Kennedy claims first Challenge Tour title". Golf News. 21 July 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Frank Kennedy Wins Portuguese International". European Golf Association. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ a b Moore, Andy (2 May 2023). "Rising golf star with famous caddie wins Lytham Trophy". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ Devika (8 July 2021). "15-Year-Old European Tour Debutant Frank Kennedy Makes the Cut at Hero Open 2021". Essentially Sports.
- ^ Cooper, Matt (28 February 2022). "Top Competition Fuels Am Kennedy". Global Golf Post. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "Getting to know Frank Kennedy as he embarks on his professional career at The Belfry". European Tour. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "English raider Kennedy captures Irish U14 title". Irish Golfer. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "England Golf names men's squad for 2022-23 season". England Golf. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- ^ "Brabazon Trophy 2021". Ganton Golf Club. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Germany Retain European Boys' Team Championship Title". European Golf Association. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "The Jacques Léglise Trophy – 2022 Preview & Results". Golf Bible. 21 August 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "The Amateur Championship – 2023 Preview & Results". Golf Bible. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ MacNamara, Ronan (25 June 2023). "Blow to GB&I Walker Cup hopes as Frank Kennedy turns pro". Irish Golfer. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ Dempster, Martin (30 June 2023). "Frank Kennedy turned back on Walker Cup at St Andrews after feeling 'ready' to turn professional". The Scotsman. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ Leighfield, Jonny (26 November 2023). "Thunderclaps, A Helping Foot, And LIV Golfer's Hole-In-One - 6 Must-See Moments From The Australian PGA Championship". Golf Monthly. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Frank Kennedy". World Amateur Golf Ranking. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
External links
edit- Frank Kennedy at the European Tour official site
- Frank Kennedy at the Official World Golf Ranking official site