10 Years Ago: Trip Kuehne Leads Texas to US State Team Win

September 20, 2017 | by United States Golf Association

Jonathan Mathias, Trip Kuehne, and Terrence Miskell with<br>Malcolm Holland of the Texas Golf Association (USGA photo)

Texas won their 3rd title on home soil 10 years ago today; 2 years later all 3 team members were out of national amateur golf

Notes: Trip Kuehne would go on to win the U.S. Mid-Amateur two weeks later at Bandon Dunes. The following spring he would "retire" from competitive amateur golf at the Masters. Likewise, Terrence Miskell and Jonathan Mathias have played very little competitive golf on a national level since.

The U.S. State Team Championship would be played five more times, with the final tournament contested at the CC of Birmingham (AL) in 2016. Early in 2017 the USGA announced the retirement of the State Team Championship.

Looking at the scores, one sees a number of players who today are among the U.S.'s best senior amateurs: Paul Simson, Keith Decker, Pat Tallent, Rick Cloninger, Tim Jackson, Bev Hargraves, Dave Ryan and Frank Vana. Simson, Tallent, and Ryan went on to become U.S. Senior Amateur champions.

...

Ten years ago today, September 20, 2007, Trip Kuehne shot a 5-under 67 to lead Texas to a one-stroke victory at the 2007 USGA Men’s State Team Championship, held at the par-72, 7,190-yard Fazio Course at the Club at Carlton Woods.

Terrence Miskell added an even-par 72 to give the home team a final-round total of 139. The team’s three day total of 422 was enough to best Georgia by one shot and give Texas its second consecutive Men’s State Team title. Texas, which also won in 1999, became the first team to win three championships.

“Any time you win a USGA championship, that’s the pinnacle of golf,” said Miskell, the lone holdover from the Lone Star State’s 2005 title team. “This is as good as it gets. We did not want someone taking the trophy from us on our own turf.”

Miskell, who battled a shoulder injury during the entire championship, said the team was focused after losing the three-stroke lead it held after the first round.

“We were a little up set at ourselves yesterday after our play,” said Miskell. “We felt like we let teams back into the championship. We felt like we should have shot under par, so to shoot over par was very frustrating.”

Miskell, playing first for Texas players, made a clutch up-and-down from a greenside bunker for par at the par-4 18th hole.

“I knew where we stood coming into 18 so when I was in that bunker, I thought, “I’ve got to get this up and down for us to have a chance,’ “ said Miskell. “There was a little fire in the belly to get it up and down.”

The winning Texas team (USGA photo)

After opening with a first-round 68, Kuehne faltered a bit with a 2-over 74 in his second round, but came back with the 67 to lead Texas to victory. His 5-under round included a birdie on the 17th and a par on the 18th.

“It’s what I should have done yesterday,” said Kuehne of his strong finish. “It’s nice to go out and play well, and for once it’s nice to be a bride instead of a bridesmaid.”

Kuehne, the runner-up at the 1994 U.S. Amateur, became the third member of his family to put his name on a USGA trophy. His brother Hank won the 1998 U.S. Amateur and his sister Kelli won the 1994 U.S. Girls’ Junior and the 1995 and 1996 Women’s Amateurs.

“I’m very pleased,” said Kuehne. “It probably won’t hit me for a while. In my opinion, these are so much more difficult because you’ve got teammates, other people who really rely on you. The team game is really what I enjoy most about golf. This is something John, Terrence and (captain) Malcolm (Holland) will never forget our entire lives.”

The third Texas teammate, Jonathan Mathias, finished with a 3-over 75 that did not count toward the winning team’s third-round tally.

But Mathias, who contributed scores of 69 and 72 in the first two rounds, knew his teammates would get the job done.

“I was glad I had teammates today,” said Mathias, who was playing in his first Men’s State Team. “I didn’t play my best today, but Terrence pulled through with his hurt shoulder, and Trip, well, Trip’s just Trip.”

Georgia, which entered Thursday trailing second-round leader Alabama by three strokes, was led by a 6-under 66 from Mark Strickland and a 1-over 73 from David Noll Jr. The runner-up finish for Georgia was the state’s best in the seven playings of the championship.

“We thought two rounds in the 60s would do it,” said Strickland, who didn’t make a bogey in his second or third rounds. “It was nice to play well in the final round, and we came close.”

Alabama, which held a two-stroke lead over Texas heading into Thursday’s final round, finished tied for third with Virginia, which was led by a 4-under 68 from Jon Hurst.

Will Swift, who opened with rounds of 67 and 70 for Alabama, finished with a 2-over 74 while teammate Steve Hudson finished with a 1-under 71.

“We knew what we were up against playing against Texas today,” said Swift. “Once we made the turn and I saw that Trip was four after under after nine holes, well, what can you do but start trying to make birdies? I just didn’t hit the shots that I needed to hit. I played pretty decent today, but just didn’t make as many putts and just came up short.”

The Men’s State Team championship is one of the national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association. Fifty-two teams, from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, entered the tournament. In each of the three, 18-hole stroke play rounds, the two lowest scores by players from each team constituted the team score for each round. The 54-hole total is the team’s score for the Championship.

- Original story was by Beth Murrison of USGA Media Relations.

Final Results

The Woodlands, Texas – Results following Thursday’s third and final round at the 2007 USGA Men’s State Team Championship at the 7,190-yard, par-72 Fazio Course at The Club at Carlton Woods. Two of three individual scores count toward the team score each day.

Texas 137-146-139--422; Trip Kuehne, Irving, 68-74-67--209; Jonathan Mathias, San Antonio, 69-72-75--216; Terrence Miskell, New Braunfels, 72-74-72--218

Georgia 142-142-139--423; Mark Strickland, Woodstock, 73-70-66--209; David Noll Jr., Dalton, 69-72-73--214; Jeff Belk, Marietta, 73-81-74--228

Alabama 140-141-145--426; Will Swift, Hoover, 67-70-74--211; Steve Hudson, Birmingham, 73-75-71--219; Talbert Griffin, Birmingham, 75-71-75--221

Virginia 144-143-139--426; Jon Hurst, Fredericksburg, 72-72-68--212; Pat Tallent, Vienna, 72-72-71--215; Keith Decker, Martinsville, 72-71-79--222

South Carolina 145-138-145--428; Brent Roof, Columbia, 71-71-72--214; Steve Liebler, Irmo, 74-68-73--215; Rick Cloninger, Fort Mill, 76-70-78--224

Oklahoma 147-145-137--429; Alan Bratton, Stillwater, 71-69-67--207; Bill Jackson, Oklahoma City, 76-76-70--222; Sam Mac Naughton, Edmond, 77-77-72--226

Tennessee 140-145-144--429; Tim Jackson, Germantown, 73-70-73--216; Thomas Smith, Chattanooga, 67-81-72--220; Danny Green, Jackson, 74-75-72--221

Washington 144-144-143--431; Zack Shriver, Marysville, 75-72-70--217; John Cassidy III, Yelm, 72-73-73--218; Erik Hanson, Kirkland, 72-72-74--218

Ohio 142-146-144--432; Peter Samborsky II, Dayton, 72-72-75--219; Wes Homan, Cincinnati, 70-79-72--221; Jason Gerken, Logan, 76-74-72--222

Oregon 141-147-144--432; Tim Sundseth, Redmond, 70-70-75--215; Brandon Kearney, Bend, 78-77-69--224; Adam Hagen, Scappoose, 71-78-77--226

Massachusetts 146-142-145--433; Bill Drohen, Stoughton, 73-71-72--216; Frank Vana Jr., Boylston, 73-71-73--217; Kevin Quinn, Needham, 77-76-79--232

Maryland 147-138-148--433; Brad Hastings, Easton, 79-68-70--217; Terry Burke, Bethesda, 72-72-78--222; Richard Holland, Bethesda, 75-70-82--227

Arkansas 144-148-142--434; Wes McNulty, Pine Bluff, 71-73-69--213; Bev Hargraves, Helena, 74-77-73--224; Chris Jenkins, Little Rock, 73-75-78--226

Illinois 150-140-145--435; Todd Mitchell, Bloomington, 77-66-71--214; Mark Esposito, Naperville, 73-74-75--222; Dave Ryan, Springfield, 77-74-74--225

Florida 148-140-147--435; Chris Condello, Heathrow, 75-68-75--218; Jon Veneziano, Mount Dora, 80-72-74--226; Jeff Golden, Winter Park, 73-82-73--228

North Carolina 144-149-143--436; Paul Simson, Raleigh, 74-73-68--215; David Strawn, Charlotte, 70-76-75--221; Dale Fuller, Raleigh, 74-78-76--228

Colorado 145-142-149--436; Ryan Anderson, Greeley, 74-70-73--217; Scott Mendelsohn, Parker, 71-72-77--220; David Delich, Colorado Springs, 80-74-76--230

New Hampshire 150-139-148--437; Dan Arvanitis, Manchester, 78-70-74--222; Phil Pleat, Nashua, 74-76-74--224; Craig Steckowych, Greenland, 76-69-81--226

Louisiana 144-145-149--438; Robby McWilliams, Bossier City, 73-75-73--221; Tommy Brennan, Covington, 77-71-76--224; Robby Going, Lake Charles, 71-74-81--226

Nevada 149-145-145--439; Brady Exber, Las Vegas, 72-72-71--215; David Nelson, Reno, 79-75-74--228; Frank Acker, Henderson, 77-73-78--228

Wyoming 144-147-148--439; Steve White, Jackson, 72-73-73--218; Todd Griffin, Casper, 72-74-76--222; Mike Urbatchka, Cody, 84-85-75--244

Pennsylvania 148-146-146--440; Nathan Smith, Pittsburgh, 72-74-72--218; Arnie Cutrell, Greensburg, 76-72-74--222; Chris Gallagher, West Chester, 77-77-77--231

Wisconsin 143-146-151--440; Pat Boyle, South Milwaukee, 73-70-74--217; Matt Behm, Janesville, 70-76-77--223; Bob Gregorski, Menasha, 74-76-80--230

Rhode Island 146-148-146--440; Charles Blanchard, Tiverton, 70-72-72--214; Jason Pannone, East Greenwich, 76-76-74--226; John Drohen, Cranston, 85-78-75--238

Utah 142-151-148--441; Dan Horner, Salt Lake City, 74-79-70--223; Kirk Siddens, Salt Lake City, 70-75-78--223; Jeff Jolley, Pleasant Grove, 72-76-86--234

Michigan 147-147-147--441; Tom Werkmeister, Kentwood, 75-72-72--219; Russell Cunningham, Dewitt, 72-75-75--222; Greg Davies, West Bloomfield, 75-75-76--226

Iowa 144-147-150--441; Justin Schulte, Waukee, 72-72-75--219; Jon Brown, Urbandale, 72-75-76--223; Nate Dunn, Cedar Rapids, 76-76-75--227

New Mexico 146-148-147--441; Matt Williams, Rio Rancho, 71-73-78--222; Patrick Hanlon, Las Cruces, 75-75-73--223; Anton Salome, Socorro, 79-75-74--228

Minnesota 151-146-144--441; Tom Jenkins, Plymouth, 79-72-71--222; Wayne Severud, Maple Grove, 77-74-73--224; Jim Lehman, Golden Valley, 74-76-79--229

Missouri 147-146-149--442; Darren Lundgren, Ballwin, 73-70-77--220; B.J. Curry, Sedalia, 74-76-72--222; Ben Godwin, Poplar Bluff, 77-79-78--234

South Dakota 143-150-150--443; Ryan Jansa, Sioux Falls, 71-70-75--216; Steven Klock, Sioux Falls, 72-82-76--230; Michael Martin, Brookings, 76-80-75--231

California 145-152-146--443; Brian Edick, Valencia, 73-76-73--222; Jordan Nasser, Anaheim, 76-77-73--226; Jeremy Gearhart, Atascadero, 72-76-80--228

North Dakota 146-153-144--443; Mike Huber, Bismarck, 74-76-72--222; Rick Kuhn, Bismarck, 72-77-77--226; Jeff Lamp, Fargo, 77-80-72--229

Puerto Rico 152-140-152--444; Alfred Colon, Guaynabo, 75-70-74--219; Leopoldo Garcia, Guaynabo, 85-70-81--236; Luis de La Haba, San Juan, 77-83-78--238

Connecticut 146-152-147--445; Jeffrey Hedden, Quaker Hill, 77-74-71--222; Bill Hermanson, East Lyme, 69-78-76--223; Tom Scarrozzo, Avon, 77-79-87--243

Kansas 148-155-143--446; Chad Judd, Olathe, 72-80-71--223; Conrad Roberts, Lawrence, 76-75-72--223; Derek Harrison, Wellington, 78-82-81--241

New Jersey 155-144-147--446; Michael Deo, Bedminster, 78-70-72--220; Jay Blumenfeld, Parsippany, 77-74-76--227; Brian Komline, Morris Plains, 78-78-75--231

Arizona 153-150-144--447; Rob McIver, Phoenix, 77-76-74--227; Camron Howell, Queen Creek, 76-83-70--229; Erik Nielsen, Tucson, 78-74-77--229

West Virginia 148-147-152--447; Patrick Carter, Huntington, 75-74-74--223; John Duty Jr., Morgantown, 73-73-80--226; Tad Tomblin, Charleston, 78-88-78--244

Nebraska 146-152-150--448; Jayson Brueggemann, Lincoln, 72-76-71--219; John Sajevic, Fremont, 74-78-80--232; Patrick Duffy, Omaha, 78-76-79--233

New York 147-153-148--448; Adam Fuchs, Plainview, 74-78-72--224; Tony Hejna, Buffalo, 73-75-79--227; Aaron Tallman, Lancaster, 78-78-76--232

Delaware 149-150-150--449; Mark Surtees, Middletown, 76-75-72--223; Tom Borsello, Wilmington, 73-75-80--228; Tim Freeh, Milton, 77-75-78--230

Hawaii 144-158-148--450; Henry Park, Waikoloa, 74-76-74--224; Bradley Shigezawa, Honolulu, 70-83-74--227; Taeksoo Kim, Wailuku, 78-82-78--238

Mississippi 152-146-152--450; Steve Wilson, Ocean Springs, 77-72-75--224; Ricky Sims, Canton, 76-74-77--227; Clay Homan, Starkville, 76-78-77--231

Indiana 151-150-151--452; Jeff Smith, Indianapolis, 76-72-76--224; Chris Clemens, Beech Grove, 75-78-75--228; Mike Bell, Indianapolis, 82-78-78--238

Maine 151-151-151--453; Joseph Alvarez, Hampden, 69-77-74--220; Keegan Fennessy, Minot, 82-74-77--233; Gary Manoogian, Westbrook, 83-83-84--250

Idaho 150-153-152--455; Ryan Bendawald, Nampa, 72-78-78--228; Marc Rhoades, Mccall, 82-75-74--231; Eric Peterson, Nampa, 78-85-80--243

Vermont 151-155-153--459; Jeff Stark, Manchester, 75-78-75--228; Peter Metzler, Killington, 77-78-78--233; Dave Goodrich, S Burlington, 76-77-84--237

Montana 156-146-159--461; Spencer Williams, Great Falls, 75-74-80--229; Josh Gold, Kalispell, 81-77-79--237; Jason Johnstone, Havre, 82-72-83--237

Alaska 157-153-156--466; Greg Sanders, Anchorage, 79-71-75--225; David Hamilton, Anchorage, 78-82-83--243; Ross Walther, Wasilla, 82-84-81--247

District of Columbia 157-158-158--473; Jonathan Orchin, Washington, 81-77-76--234; Kevin McDonnell, Washington, 76-81-82--239; Greg Bremer, Washington, 86-84-82--252

Kentucky 160-160-159--479; Greg Engle, Lexington, 81-81-79--241; Jimmy Riddle, Madisonville, 80-79-84--243; David Rudder, Lexington, 80-87-80--247

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