By Ken Klavon, USGA

Village of Pinehurst, N.C. – When he was 13 years old, Drew Kittleson was thrown into the throes of tragedy, unfair for any child.

"We don’t talk about that much anymore," said his father, 56-year-old Kurt Kittleson, after "Drew-Drew" advanced to the U.S. Amateur final with a 4-and-2 victory over Adam Mitchell Saturday at Pinehurst No. 2. "When you’re 13 years old and you lose your mother, that’s tough on any kid. It helped him grow up fast."

Drew, low key but mature well beyond his 19 years now, tried to keep his mind preoccupied in Scottsdale, Ariz. He played golf, fished at his Minnesota cabin and did all the things that any normal 13-year-old kid would do. Because if he didn’t, the sadness – as deep as the ocean is wide – might have engulfed him. Kittleson received the news "three or four days" before Christmas in 2002 while he was competing at the Doral Junior Championship.

His mom, Janis, had passed on from colon cancer.

Obviously it’s a sensitive subject that Kittleson doesn’t expand on. Who can blame him?

Though she’ll never be forgotten, he did find solace in something that his step-mother told him Friday night when they were discussing the semifinals. She said dreams do come true. The wiry Kittleson found that out with a lunch-pail bucket effort against Mitchell that now puts him on the precipice of a win in the nation’s most difficult amateur championship. The Florida State University sophomore already has a full exemption into next year’s U.S. Open wrapped up, as well as a probable invitation into the Masters.

"I can’t believe it," said Kittleson, who needed to win a playoff in his qualifier just to get into the U.S. Amateur. "I’m at a loss for words and I’m excited."

The ride to this point of his career has been predicated on dedication and determination. His path started as a child when his father would take him to Highlands Desert Golf Club on Thursdays before school. They’d play six holes and then they’d tend to their responsibilities, namely school and work.

Kittleson had already established himself as a golf prodigy by that point. His father, who retired to take care of his ailing mother, had gotten him hooked up with instructor Scott Watkins of Arizona Country Club. Kurt figured when his son turned 8, his usefulness to impart knowledge had reached its ceiling.

Last year Kittleson decided he wanted to get away from Arizona. He hung his hat on Florida State, where this year he was named to the All-ACC Academic Team. When he reached the university his freshman season, he had grown 3 inches in a span of nine months. It affected his swing. He worked with the renowned Butch Harmon, which he continues to do so about three times a year. The tutelage has evidently paid off. This week he has led 55 holes over his five matches. He’s been down just 12.

His caddie, 43-year-old Rob Henry of Pinehurst, was assigned to his bag. He found it difficult to pinpoint one aspect that has impressed him most.

"He’s got it all," said Henry. "He’s all business out there. I’ll tell you, his length is very good and he chips the ball well. He can hit all the shots, in my opinion."

This week Kittleson hasn’t used any long irons to find the green. The lowest he’s gone is 6-iron.

He did face mild adversity early in his match against Mitchell. Kittleson wasn’t sure what to think when Mitchell holed out from 104 yards on the par-5 fourth to forge a 2-up margin. After all, Kittleson did nothing wrong. He found the green in two, setting up a 45-foot eagle putt before Mitchell’s ball hopped 8 feet beyond the flagstick and spun back into the target.

"He holed out twice yesterday somebody told me, so I was like, ‘Well, here we go.’ And then you can’t do anything," said Kittleson.

Kittleson wouldn’t budge. After winning the par-5 10^th with a birdie, he never trailed again. The 11^th hole clearly busted Mitchell. After making a remarkable shot to find the green in which his ball was stuck behind native love grass, Mitchell suffered an improbable three-putt from 15 feet. He went from being in a position to square things to losing the hole.

By that time, Kittleson was completely dialed in. His focus was like an eagle zoning in on a fish. He’s deliberate and fundamentally sound. On the green, he is laborious in his preparation. First, he marks his ball, stands over it as if to hit, only to pull off, re-mark and get his line. It’s all in his progression of things.

It didn’t bother his opponent.

"Some guys fly, some guys just are really slow," said Mitchell. "So you can’t let that bother you. You have to worry about your own game."

When Kittleson closed out the match on the 16^th hole, his dad met him just off the green and gave him a giant bear hug. Friends had traveled from Scottsdale just in time to see him advance.

Afterward, Kittleson was asked if he has surprised himself. He stammered a bit, but then hit his stride.

"I’m pretty self-confident, you could say, so I don’t think anybody should go to an event they think they can’t win," he said. "But in the back of your mind, there’s always your awful rounds that you played and I hope that doesn’t show up."

In the grand scheme of events, golf is secondary to what he’s been through. For a man who lost his mom six years ago as an adolescent, Kittleson discovered himself through golf for which he’s already a winner.

No matter what happens Sunday.

Ken Klavon is the USGA’s Editor of New Media. E-mail him with questions or comments at kklavon@usga.org.