Former PGA Tour player Ben Kern Passes Away

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:45:33

"Ben Kern, a former PGA Tour player, Toronto-area club pro and a dedicated fixture on the Canadian golf scene, died Monday. He had been diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. He was 55.

Most recently, Kern was the director of golf at Devil's Pulpit in Caledon, Ont., after spending two decades running The National in Woodbridge, Ont., one of Canada's elite private clubs. It was during his time at The National that Kern forged a bond with the late, great Canadian pro George Knudson.

The pair worked together to create a renowned junior golf academy that produced a number of promising players, including PGA Tour pro David Morland IV of Aurora, Ont.

After graduating from New Mexico State University in 1969, Kern spent six years on the PGA Tour. His best finish was a fourth at the Texas Open and Kern was the low Canadian in the Canadian Open three times. In recent years, Kern also helped LPGA Tour star Lorie Kane of Charlottetown work on her short game.
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