Jerry Kelly

    Jerry Kelly

    Height: 5 ft. 11 in 

    Weight: 165 lbs 

    Birthday: 11/23/1966

    College: University of Hartford

    Turned Pro: 1989 

    Birthplace: Madison, Wisconsin

    Country:  United States

    Sponsor: Cleveland Golf

     

    Despite graduating from the University of Hartford in 1989 and turning pro shortly after, Kelly had to toil on the various US mini tours before making it onto the PGA Tour six years later in 1996. He won his card as a result of topping the rankings on the Nike Tour in 1995. He won twice and was runner up once on his way to graduating from the second tier Tour.

    In his rookie season, Kelly had four top ten finishes, with his best result coming at the Greater Milwaukee Open where he lost out on the first play-off hole to Loren Roberts. He would end his first season on the main Tour at 59thon the money list.

    Kelly played steady but unspectacular golf for a number of seasons before having a breakout in 2001 when he had seven top 10s including a runner up at the Reno-Tahoe Open. He finished the season 35th on the money list. The best season of Kelly’s career came in 2002 when he captured his first ever Tour title as well as his second. His first ever win came at his first event of the season, the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he beat John Cook by one shot. His second win came in July at the Advil Western Open, where he shot a closing round of 65 to beat Davis Love III by two shots. He had a total of eight top 10s and finished the season a career high 6th on the money list.

    Despite having two runner-up finishes in both 2006 and 2008, it wasn’t until the 2009 season that Kelly won his third and most recent PGA Tour title. It came at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans where Kelly won by a single stroke. He had five further top 10s that season and finished the year 23rd on the money list. Kelly lost his card for the first time after 2012, finishing a mere $1,809 away from securing his Tour card. Instead of attending Q School, Kelly utilised a once off exemption whereby players who are in the top 25 of career PGA Tour earnings can have a one year exemption. He has kept his card since.