JFK’s Kokrak scrambling for inroads

— Nationwide tour —

By Doug Tifft

Cincinnati Enquirer

MAINEVILLE

For a guy who averages more than 340 yards off the tee, Jason Kokrak still doesn’t get respect from the golf world.

As he bombs 3-woods 10 yards past the drives of players who have won PGA Tour events, Kokrak has been left to scramble for the first five years of his professional career, begging for sponsor’s exemptions into Nationwide Tour events for the chance to prove himself.

But Kokrak, 26, has found an alternative route to success in the golf world, dominating mini tours to get himself onto the Nationwide Tour. Kokrak fired a 5-under 67 — four shots behind the leaders — at Thursday’s first round of the Chiquita Classic outside Cincinnati, only to shoot 75 on Friday and miss the cut by two strokes.

At 6-foot-4, Kokrak’s long swing has helped him win at nearly every level he has competed.

After winning two state individual titles at Warren JFK, Kokrak went on to Xavier and spent the next four years compiling what coach Doug Steiner called the best career in school history.

Yet, despite winning two Atlantic 10 Player of the Year awards, an Ohio state amateur title, a U.S. Open qualifier and being named an honorable mention PING All-American, Kokrak could not get himself into tournaments after turning pro shortly after graduation in 2007.

He played in a few mini tour events for three years, continuing to flood Nationwide Tour tournament directors with paper asking for exemptions, all to no avail.

“Maybe it is because I don’t have a name that jumps off the tongue,” Kokrak said. “Or maybe it is because I didn’t go to a big-name school. Whatever it is, I have just been overlooked over and over again.”

That is starting to change now.

Kokrak led the eGolf Tour money list in 2010, winning two events and earning a partial exemption onto the Nationwide Tour this year.

It still left Kokrak with plenty of open dates on the schedule in 2011, so he went back for three eGolf events, winning two and finishing second in the last.

“[The other eGolf members] don’t want me out there anymore,’ said Kokrak, who is currently leading the eGolf Tour money list despite moving predominantly to the Nationwide Tour more than a month ago. “They will be happy if I get to kiss them goodbye for good.”

He needs a win to secure a spot on the Nationwide Tour for the rest of the year, but can assure himself invites to more Nationwide tournaments by merely moving himself up the money list.

If he is able to parlay that into a top-60 finish he will lock up a spot on the Nationwide Tour full-time next year.

“I am finally starting to turn the corner,” Kokrak said. “My game speaks for itself and I think people are beginning to notice now.”