Kamas makes successful return
Standout plays 1st tourney in 7 months, wins by 5
MADDI KAMAS shows off the flag she received after winning a TJGT event earlier this month. [Photo provided]
Oklahoma isn’t the only place Maddi Kamas wins golf tournaments.
Kamas returned to competition earlier this month and made it a successful one with a five-stroke victory in the Bridlewood Spring Blast in Flower Mound, Texas.
The tournament was held May 9-10 and is part of the Texas Junior Golf Tour.
It was the first tournament for Kamas, who just finished her junior year at Kingfisher High School, since October 2019.
“It was great to be back,” Kamas said. “I was nervous beforehand, but as soon as I got there, I felt so relaxed.”
Like all other athletes across the country, Kamas was forced to miss her junior high school golf season due to COVID-19, derailing her hopes of winning a state championship that she’s just missed out on the previous two years.
The tournament at Bridlewood featured golfers from Texas, Arkansas and Kansas in the 15-18 yearold division.
Kamas was the lone Oklahoma golfer and shared the lead with Jamie Welsh of Coppell, Texas, after the first day.
Both shot 3-over-par 75, which was two strokes better than Jacee Fields of Fort Worth.
“I played pretty solid, but I did have two double-bogeys, which set me back,” Kamas said.
Welsh fell off the pace on the second day, but Kamas and Fields improved.
Fields shot a 76 to finish at 153 for the tournament.
However, she was no match for Kamas.
Kamas eliminated the penalty shots and finished with a 1-over 73, the best round of the tournament for any golfer.
“The second day was pretty consistent with the first day, just without the double-bogeys,” Kamas said.
Kamas’ two-day total was 148.
Grace Kilcrease took third with a 154.
Welsh shot 82 on the second day and was tied for sixth.
Sixteen golfers took part in the oldest female age division.
For Kamas, who is currently playing an Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour tournament in Shawnee, getting back on the course was the main thing…even if the world has changed a lot since last October.
“It was different with the COVID-19 restrictions,” Kamas said. “There was no taking the pin out, no bunker rakes, no shaking hands and no awards ceremony, but the TJGT did a really great job of managing the tournament while keeping us players safe and hydrated.”