Pacific Northwest Amateur: Aiden Krafft is qualifying medalist

Aiden Krafft of Albuquerque, New Mexico earned Medalist honors at the 121st Pacific Northwest Golf Association Amateur at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.

Kraft shot 70-65 to finish 9-under and earn medalist honors heading into match play, finishing two strokes ahead of first round leader Ben Bordiga of Shoreline, Wash., after he followed up his first round 67 with a second round 70.

Jack Cantlay of Los Alamitos, Calif. and younger brother of PGA Tour member Patrick Cantlay, finished in solo third place at 6-under.

Krafft got off a to blazing start, starting 4-under through his first six holes and finishing with the eight birdies. His only blunder on the round was a bogey on the par-3 No. 9.

Bordiga was struggling to open his round, as he was 2-over through 11 holes of his second round. He was able to record birdies on holes No. 12 and 14 and an eagle hole-out on No. 16 to finish his last seven holes at 4-under and earn the No. 2 seed in match play.

The first round of the stroke play qualifying was held at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash. on July 17, and at Chambers Bay on July 18. All matches will be contested at Chambers Bay.

Krafft is A two-time New Mexico state high school champion and shot a state high school record 12-under 60 in the final round of the 2022 New Mexico state 5A tournament and won the individual title by 12 strokes. He is playing well as of late -- at the end of June he qualified for the U.S. Amateur; he will be in the field this August at Cherry Hills in Denver.