[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 136 (Wednesday, September 14, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO KEEGAN BRADLEY
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, with the Senate now back in session, as a
Vermonter I would like to call the Senate's attention to Mr. Keegan
Bradley's first-place finish in the 93rd Professional Golf
Association's Championship Tournament on Sunday, August 14. Mr. Bradley
is the first male golfer born in Vermont to win a major PGA
Championship.
Keegan Bradley has earned a permanent place for himself, and Vermont,
in the record books. As a rookie golfer, his participation in the 2011
PGA Championship is his first major tournament, making him one of only
three rookie golfers ever to place first in a major tournament debut.
This win also marks the end of a six-major tournament dry spell for
American golfers. In order to win this year's PGA Championship, Bradley
needed to demonstrate tenacity and determination. Keegan successfully
came back from a four-shot deficit in the last three holes of the
tournament, proving his ability to focus and overcome obstacles.
His PGA Championship win extends Mr. Bradley's successful start to
his professional golf career. Most notably, he placed first in another
PGA tournament earlier this year, the HP Byron Nelson Championship in
Texas. In 2011 he has also finished in the top 10 in 4 PGA tournaments,
as well as having finished within the top 25 in 10 others.
Even more impressively, Keegan Bradley has spent many of his younger
years living in the New England area, with seasonal weather that did
not always afford him the luxury of training year-round. This resulted
in much time-sensitive dedication and focus, as winter weather inhibits
year-round outside practice in our part of the country.
Keegan Bradley was born in Woodstock, VT, in 1986 and attended
Woodstock High School. He is the son of Mr. Mark Bradley, golf
professional at Crown Point Golf Club, and Mrs. Kay Bradley. Keegan is
also the nephew of Ms. Pat Bradley, a Ladies Professional Golf
Association Hall-of-Famer. I am proud to recognize Keegan Bradley for
his accomplishment, both as a Vermonter and a professional golfer. I
join all Vermonters in wishing him many more years of success.
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