Young Gun Kevin Kiefer Soars at Ledgestone Open

Kevin Kiefer is making the most of his opportunities. The 20-year-old disc golfer has been on a hot streak since leaving his hometown of Valrico, Florida, and hasn't looked back. After years of competing in local tournaments and building a strong support system, Kiefer hit the road full-time last February and has loved every second of it.

"I felt great - bogey-free, 8-down," he said after Thursday's round at Lake Eureka. "My game plan was to keep it in bounds, and I did that. Kept it slow, kept it consistent." His performance earned him a solo third-place spot heading into the second round of the 2022 DGPT - Ledgestone Open.

Kiefer's journey to the top has been anything but traditional. He's been playing disc golf his entire life, but it wasn't until he joined the PDGA and started competing in tournaments in 2017 that things really took off. Growing up in the Tampa area, where the disc golf scene is huge, Kiefer thrived with the locals and eventually made it more serious.

His big break came at the 2019 PDGA Junior World Championships, where he finished second in MJ18. Several players competing at Ledgestone this week were also part of that field, including Zach Arlinghaus, Elijah Bickel, Levi Hancock, Evan Smith, Robert Burridge, and D.W. Hass.

Kiefer's focus on becoming a career player really kicked in after his impressive showing at the championships. He credits his family and friends for their unwavering support, as well as his sponsor, Latitude 64, Team Figgins. "I just had the support of everyone - family and friends - and I got a sponsor last year," he said. "I'm young and here's my chance so I'm taking it."

Now, Kiefer is part of a tight-knit crew on tour, including Randon Latta, Stacie Hass, DW Hass, and Woody Hass, as well as his Circle One team with Eagles Wings Disc Golf. They provide a support system that's essential for navigating the ups and downs of professional disc golf.

"I wouldn't be here without them," Kiefer said. "When you have those bad rounds or a bad stretch, it's really nice to have someone that understands the feeling."

As Kiefer takes on the challenging Northwood Black course over the next two days, he knows what it takes to stay focused and composed under pressure. "It means nerves - a lot of nerves and stress‚ but I'm excited," he said. With his strong start at Ledgestone, Kiefer is ready to take advantage of another chance to shine in front of his peers.

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This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/keifer-seized-opportunity