Kinney advances past 54-hole cut at NCAA Championships

Iowa State junior golfer Tripp Kinney tracks the ball after hitting his tee shot.

Jack Shover

On Sunday, Iowa State’s Tripp Kinney made the cut at the NCAA Championships and currently ranks tied for 23rd overall at the tournament.

Before the cut, each golfer at the tournament  156 total  played 18 rounds of golf each day, beginning Friday for a total of 54 total holes.

At the cut, the original 30 teams at the tournament would be reduced to 15 and then the next nine best individual golfers would also qualify for the next round.

Kinney shot 75 in the first round, 71 in the second and 74 in the third round for 220 total strokes (4 over). Through those three rounds, Kinney has not shot a double-bogey.

Iowa State failed to qualify for the championships as a team, but Kinney won the Big 12 Championships as an individual. This is Kinney’s third trip to the NCAA Championships, which is the most appearances by any golfer ever in the Cyclones’ history.

Neither Kinney nor coach Andrew Tank had ever played at Blessings Golf Course in Arkansas  where the championship is being held  making it a new course for both.

Starting Monday at 4 p.m., the individual champion will be decided according to the NCAA’s schedule.

The championships are being aired on the Golf Channel.