From Spain Park to the big stage, it’s been quite the journey, but Jaguar alum Chase Kyes is set to make his major debut at the U.S. Open this week.Kyes, who just finished his freshman season at Tennessee, qualified for the tournament by going through local and final qualifying. He shot 11-under-par 133 on Golf’s Longest Day to earn his spot in the U.S. Open. For Spain Park head boys golf coach Keat Litton, it’s no surprise Kyes has made it here.”He’s a competitor. He hates to lose. I always thought that he was probably the best athlete that was in the school building,” Litton said. Just a year ago, Kyes wrapped up his career at Spain Park, where he won three individual state titles and guided the Jags to a team title in 2024. It’s what Kyes did as a seventh grader, though, that set the tone.”He was in a playoff that first tournament, a two-day tournament in Fairhope. In a playoff with five other guys that were seniors going to play Division I golf, going to Alabama, going to Auburn, going to Troy, all these guys going to play Division I golf, and he won that tournament in that, I guess it was a five- or six-way playoff, that he won as a seventh grader,” Litton said. Kyes still has a long way to go as he is set for his sophomore year at Tennessee, but for Litton, a future on tour for Kyes is possible. “He’s one of the best players to ever come through Birmingham. The success he had in high school golf, the success he’s had in junior golf. There’s been a lot of really good golfers come through this area, and he’s up there with that,” Litton said. Kyes is set to tee off at 5:57 a.m. Thursday in Round 1 of the U.S. Open.
From Spain Park to the big stage, it’s been quite the journey, but Jaguar alum Chase Kyes is set to make his major debut at the U.S. Open this week.
Kyes, who just finished his freshman season at Tennessee, qualified for the tournament by going through local and final qualifying. He shot 11-under-par 133 on Golf’s Longest Day to earn his spot in the U.S. Open. For Spain Park head boys golf coach Keat Litton, it’s no surprise Kyes has made it here.
“He’s a competitor. He hates to lose. I always thought that he was probably the best athlete that was in the school building,” Litton said.
Just a year ago, Kyes wrapped up his career at Spain Park, where he won three individual state titles and guided the Jags to a team title in 2024. It’s what Kyes did as a seventh grader, though, that set the tone.
“He was in a playoff that first tournament, a two-day tournament in Fairhope. In a playoff with five other guys that were seniors going to play Division I golf, going to Alabama, going to Auburn, going to Troy, all these guys going to play Division I golf, and he won that tournament in that, I guess it was a five- or six-way playoff, that he won as a seventh grader,” Litton said.
Kyes still has a long way to go as he is set for his sophomore year at Tennessee, but for Litton, a future on tour for Kyes is possible.
“He’s one of the best players to ever come through Birmingham. The success he had in high school golf, the success he’s had in junior golf. There’s been a lot of really good golfers come through this area, and he’s up there with that,” Litton said.
Kyes is set to tee off at 5:57 a.m. Thursday in Round 1 of the U.S. Open.