Keaton Vo ties course record

Keaton Vo, the Texas-bound golfer who won this year’s Class 5A boys state championship, has enjoyed a memorable U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

Vo, 18, tied the course record at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon on Tuesday with a 7-under 65 during the second round of stroke play at the junior amateur championship. His stroke-play total of 69-65 134 led the field of 264 players, and he headed into the round of 32 on Thursday as the No. 1 seed. The quarterfinals and semifinals will take place Friday, and the title match is Saturday.

“It was a great round,” Vo said. “It wasn’t perfect golf. I knew that I didn’t really need to be perfect. My goal was just to try and get a good seed coming into match play. But I hit the ball much better than I did (Monday). I missed in the right spots and converted my putts, so it was a really fun round all around.”

Vo stayed focused down the stretch, worrying more about each shot than any score.

“I didn’t really have a set score coming into today or put one out there as the round went on,” he said. “I just tried to hit good shots, good tee balls and then feed myself with birdie opportunities. I didn’t realize the course record was in reach. I was just trying to play good golf.”

Vo, one of the highest-ranked amateur golfers in his age group in the nation, helped Anderson become the first team from the Austin, Texas, school district to win a state championship in any UIL-sanctioned sport since 2003 by holding off Highland Park to win the 5A title. Anderson ended the two-round event with a 294-293—587 at White Wing Golf Club, and Vo cruised to the title by six strokes while ending with a 67-66 133.

But the match-play format, as well as the links-style course along the Pacific Ocean coast, have made his week at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship particularly appealing.

“I really enjoy match play,” Vo said. “You don’t have to play perfect golf. I tend to keep it in the fairway and keep the pressure going throughout the round, so I’m really excited. I feel like this course suits me very well. I’m excited to keep the week going.

“I have not played much links golf, but when I get the chance to, I really enjoy it. Like I said, it suits my game really well. I’m from Texas, and we get a lot of low balls, and we know how to flight the ball well so it suits my game. If I can just keep the putter rolling this week, I should be in a good spot.”