By Rich Chrampanis
RUMSON – Winston Kelenc-Blank’s path to Division I golf was unique. The Rumson native spent his high school years at the Peddie School in Hightstown where he helped the Falcons win the 2021 Prep “A” state championship. Following his graduation in 2022, Kelenc-Blank went the post-grad route at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallington, Connecticut, a worthwhile decision as it helped him reach the goal of playing Division I golf: Kelenc-Blank recently signed a national letter of intent to continue his golf career at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, part of the Patriot League.
“I was impressed with the coaching staff lead by head coach Jim Hutnik,” Kelenc-Blank said about his decision. “Lafayette gives me a world class education with a distinguished economics program. Many alumni and friends have shared with me their great experience on the golf team and in the classroom.”
Before heading to college, he still has a season to compete for Choate Rosemary Hall to get him ready for the competition of the Patriot League. Going the post-grad route has been a positive step in his development.
“My PG year at Choate continues to strengthen me both physically and mentally and enables me to put more into my game and prepare for the rigors of college academics,” Kelenc-Blank said. “I’ve always been one of the youngest students throughout my academic journey, sometimes with peers two years older than me. After graduating from The Peddie School with an outstanding education, I felt I needed another year to catch up and continue to develop my game and foster my strong academic background.”
Winston’s résumé is impressive. In 2022, he won the Saucon Valley Country Club’s EG Grace men’s club champion, becoming the youngest winner in the 100-year history of the event. Adding to his summer exploits, Kelenc-Blank played in the qualifying round of the 107th Met Open Championship, the third oldest open tournament in the United States. The qualifier field consisted of both professional and amateur players. “I was honored to be paired with former PGA tour player Jason Gore (the medalist at -8 under). I finished tied fourth with a -5 under round of 67. My round earned me a spot to play in the championship round at the famed Bethpage Black course,” Kelenc-Blank said.
The summer of 2022 held even more success for Kelenc-Blank. He carded a 73 – tied for fifth – to qualify for the 105th Met Junior Championship at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Setauket, New York, for the 36-hole stroke play; the top 16 finishers moved on to match play. After the 36-holes, Kelenc-Blank scored 67 (low score for the round) and 75, moving him to the round of 16. He reached the quarter finals with a score of 70, beating his opponent 1 up.
By virtue of his round of eight performance in the Met Junior and as Baltusrol’s current junior club champion, Kelenc-Blank earned an exemption for the MGA’s 20th Carter Cup Invitational/MGA Junior 36-hole Stroke Play Championship hosted by Baltusrol Golf Club and played on both the Upper and Lower courses.
In addition to golf, Kelenc-Blank was a member of Peddie’s soccer team. All of this has helped mold him into a Division I athlete. “I’ve always been a multisport athlete. However, golf has been a constant sport for me from a very young age,” he said. “I started out at Hollywood Golf Club in Deal… to Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Baltusrol Golf Club where I play and train with Matt Wilson, a phenomenal coach and mentor.”
Along with his local and regional achievements, Kelenc-Blank was the first junior American member of North Berwick Golf Club in Scotland where he has been a member since 2018.
“None of this would be possible without the support of my parents. I’m truly grateful and incredibly lucky.”
The article originally appeared in the February 16 – 22, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
