Frank Kennedy (golfer)
English professional golfer (born 2005)
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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]
England| 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 | Challenge Tour |
| Professional wins | 1 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| Challenge Tour | 1 |
Amateur career
Kennedy'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
Kennedy 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
Kennedy spends a lot of time in Florida at his Jupiter base where he is coached by Brad Faxon and Jim McLean.
Amateur wins
- 2022 Portuguese International Amateur Championship
- 2023 Lytham Trophy
Source:[16]
Professional wins (1)
Challenge Tour wins (1)
| 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
- European Boys' Team Championship (representing England): 2022
- Jacques Léglise Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 2022