Mandeville’s Blake Kelley finished second in the Callaway Golf PGA Junior Series 16- to 18-year-old division at the Penn State University Golf Courses in State College, Pa., July 16-18, coming in two strokes behind Drew Imel of Bluffton, Ind. Imel shot a five under with rounds of 72, 70 and 69.

Kelley was the only golfer from Louisiana and one of 81 competitors representing 14 states and Canada in the division. Kelley finished the event with a 3 under par 213 total with rounds of 75, 64 and 74.

Kelley, entering his senior year at Mandeville High, blistered the Penn State Blue Course in the second round, posting his 64 to tie the all-time low round for a PGA Junior Series event, which was established in 1996. Kelley fashioned 10 birdies in his career low round with two bogeys, which gave him a three-stroke lead over Imel entering the final round.

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Kelley posted a 30 on the front nine, including four consecutive birdies on holes six through nine.

Kelley talked about his eye-opening round of 64. He credited his wedge game and his consistent putting.

“I was dropping 20-footers and 30-footers (putts) left and right. I had about a 35-footer up hill, right to left, on hole No. 8. After I made that putt for birdie, things got exciting for me,” Kelley said.

He followed up with another birdie on the ninth hole, his fourth straight. He carded a 34 on the back nine, closing out the second round with clutch birdies on 17 and 18.

“I was fortunate enough to hole out from the sand trap on No. 17 for a birdie. I’ve really been putting well during the last few weeks. I’m really confident with my putter,” Kelley said.

Kelley was in a threesome the final day with Imel and another player.

“Drew was a very solid player. When the tournament was over, I just shook his hand to congratulate him. He deserved to win,” Kelley said.

Kelley described the Penn State course as beautiful.

“You were hitting with mountains in the background. The texture of the greens was very different from what I’m used to playing on down south,” Kelley said.

Playing in his first match in the northeast, Kelley said he got off the plane wearing a sweater, while everybody else up there was complaining about the heat.

Kelley said he has had a great summer and hopes it continues. He is scheduled to compete in two American Junior Golf Association events during the next couple of weeks. He was coming off of a third-place finish six strokes back in the Gulf States Junior PGA Championship held at Copper Mill Golf Club in Zachary on July 1-2. In that tournament, Kelley recorded an impressive seven under par 65 in the final round, including an eagle on a par 5, 510-yard hole.