Kimsey and Shelton bogeyed the par-3 17th, (both players missed the green on the 183- yard hole) and stood at the 18th tied. Kimsey's par was enough to do the trick, as Shelton suffered another bogey, and he won with a 54-hole total of 4-under 212.
To say Kimsey was warmed up coming into the Terra Cotta, and due for a victory, would be an understatement.
Kimsey, 20, is a member of the prestigious 2013 English squad and represented his country in the Eisenhower Trophy in Australia in January. Kimsey and his teammates also played a number of major individual events like the Australian Amateur (rd of 32) and Master of the Amateurs (T20) and several prestigious regional events on the same trip. He was runner-up in both the Lake Macquarie Amateur in Australia and the Avondale Medal Play, both top-level events at beautiful courses. In March, Kimsey represented England at the European Nations Cup.
Coming down the stretch on Sunday his "tournament tough" game showed. The 18th at Naples National is a double-dogleg par-5 where placement is key, as few players go for the green in two. Kimsey played position golf, while Shelton, the No. 2 ranked junior found tree trouble on the right off the tee. Punching out and trying to clear some native grasses, Shelton's ball overcut and found the water hazard requiring a drop and penalty stroke.
Both players wedged to makeable distance. Kimsey missed his birdie putt to guarantee a victory outright, but Shelton's putt also slipped by. At 17-years old and heading for Alabama in September, make a note of Shelton's name if you follow the game. Tournament director Denny Glass was impressed with both top finishers' games, and the quality of younger players' play as of late.
"It's amazing to see the poise that these players have," said Glass, who noted that the youngest player ever in a U.S. Open, 15-year-old Andy Zhang of China was in his field this year.
"At the Northeast Amateur [Glass is also tournament director there, ed.] and the Terra Cotta there are a lot more better young players than I've seen in the past."
NOTABLE 2013 PLAYERS
* 13 AJGA All-Americans
* 2012 U.S. Open participants Beau Hossler (13) Andy Zhang (T35) respectively.
* 2012 Terra Cotta runner-up Jim Liu, the youngest-ever USGA Junior Amateur champion (T7)
