Blake Keen Wins 2025 North Amateur
WICHITA FALLS – Blake Keen of Burleson prevailed in a playoff to win the 2025 North Amateur. Keen posted rounds of 69, 67, and 69 to finish at 8-under for the championship.
Briefly: Keen teed off in the final group, paired alongside Trophy Club’s Aaron Cummins, and Seth Bearden who led by a shot. Throughout the day, the leaderboard was crowded, with four players in a tie for first place through five holes. Keen then went on to birdie the 6th, 8th, and 10th holes to soar to the top.
Seth Bearden would birdie the short par-4 16th, giving Keen just a one-shot cushion with two holes to play. Teeing off on the 17th, Blake Keen hit his shot and immediately pointed left with his driver.
“I think I just got a little quick with that drive…” he said. Keen had a tricky stance, with a fence nearing in his backswing. “I was able to punch it back out into the fairway and then two-putt, it was fine,” he then said. A bogey, matched with a Bearden par, meant headed to the 18th hole, they were tied again.
They would go on to par the 18th in regulation, forcing a playoff. Both Bearden and Keen pulled their drives into the rough but then their approach shots were both hit to within 15 feet. Bearden was away, and pulled his putt just a smidge, giving Keen a putt to win.
“I hit that putt a couple times in the practice round, and I figured it would move a little left, and it surely did,” Keen said. The putt dropped, and Blake Keen was the champion.
With the win, Keen earned exemption into the 117th Texas Amateur presented by Hytera US next year, which will take place at Spanish Oaks Golf Club. Seth Bearden and Aaron Cummins will join him, as the top three finishers earn exemption into the championship.
Top Finishers: Seth Bearden lost in the sudden-death playoff to take second place at 8-under. Aaron Cummins took third place at 6-under, and Andrew Petruzzelli took home fourth after finishing 5-under. These four players were the only ones in the field to have three rounds under par.
Tournament Statistics: The scoring average for the week was 76.1. The hardest hole was hole 5, a long par-4 with a 4.71 scoring average. The easiest was the very next hole, the gettable par-5 6th with a 4.59 scoring average.
Course: Founded in 1914, Wichita Falls Country Club carries a rich history rooted in the city’s early development and ties to the oil boom. Originally established as Wichita Falls Golf Club with a nine-hole course, the club faced financial struggles during the Great Depression before being reorganized. A pivotal figure in its revival was Solon Featherston, who purchased the club and made significant improvements.
The club has hosted numerous TGA and USGA qualifiers, as well as notable TGA events including multiple Father-Son Championships, three Texas Amateurs, and the 1989 Texas Mid-Amateur. Wichita Falls Country Club is also set to host the 43rd Texas Mid-Amateur presented by Hytera US in 2026.
Weather: All three rounds consisted of fairly gusty conditions but sunny skies. Temperatures ranged anywhere from the high 70’s in the mornings to the mid to high 90’s by completion of play each day.
Regional POY: Regional Player of the Year points will be awarded to the top 30 finishers at the 2025 North Amateur. The champion will receive 1000 points, followed by 800 for second place and 700 for third place. For information regarding full player of the year points, click here.
What’s Next: With the conclusion of the 2025 TGA Regional Series, next on the state championship schedule is the Texas Four-Ball. Registration for the Four-Ball will close on August 13th at 5:00 pm, and the championship will be held at Tempest Golf Club from August 22-24. Qualifying for the 42nd Texas Mid-Amateur presented by Hytera US is nearly complete, and the championship will take place at Champions Golf Club in Houston from September 5-7. For information regarding the rest of the year’s championships, click here.
More Info: The Texas Golf Association extends its sincere appreciation to the staff and members of Wichita Falls Country Club, as well as our volunteers for their integral part in making the North Amateur a successful event. For more information on the 2025 North Amateur, click here.