By Colleen Kane
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Kevin Hall exults after winning the Met. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

While Kevin Hall talked with a beaming smile to a crowd of reporters about his Met Championship victory on Friday, his father, Percy, stood to the side and wiped away tears with a towel.

Percy Hall had spent more than 30 hours this week carrying his son's bag, arguing with him over clubs and shots - and watching him nail nearly all of them.

Kevin Hall beat Billy Williamson 3 and 2 at Oasis to cap an incredible five-day run and win his first Met Championship in four tries. The 20-year-old from Ohio State finished the Met's seven rounds (two stroke play, five match play) 25 strokes under par, including three rounds at 6-under.

Kevin said he played as well only once before, last fall at an Ohio State qualifier. His father wasn't so sure.

"I've never seen him play like this," Percy said. "He's maturing, and that's what we've been trying to do. I can look back at those days when we played the little par-3s, and now he's 25 under par."

Hall celebrates with his mother Jackie. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

Percy was Kevin's caddy and played a special role as his son's interpreter this week.

Kevin has been deaf since suffering a bout of meningitis when he was 2, and Percy and Kevin's mother, Jackie, helped him communicate throughout the week.

Percy also helped his son analyze the course, with which Kevin had little trouble Friday.

After an 8-and-7 beating of Scott Ross in the morning's semifinals, Hall went 5-up on Williamson after nine holes. He made five birdies, and numerous chips and putts - such as one 25-footer on hole No. 2 - that drew chuckles of disbelief from the crowd of about 50 people.

Williamson, who beat Justin Fender 1-up in the semifinals, reduced the lead to 2-up on hole No. 12 with his first two birdies of the match. But Hall won hole 14 and tied 15 and 16 for the title.

"I wish I would have gotten off to a better start," Williamson said. "It's a tough match to lose, but he's a heck of an athlete."

Kevin had the mechanics, the athleticism and the accuracy; his father had the research, which sometimes resulted in arguments.

"Dad stays up all night studying about golf, and he comes out and helps me," Kevin said. "... Most of the time the fight is about the club. I may win, but most of the time I'm wrong."

Kevin, who was an All-Ohio golfer from St. Rita School for the Deaf and Winton Woods, averaged a 73.4 during his junior season with the Buckeyes, in part because of an improved mental game, he said.

Though he's been playing since he was 9, he never dreamed of a Met Championship until last year, when he was eliminated from its round of 16. Then, he began to crave the Met's silver trophy.

"Two or three years ago, I was still a little kid. But I felt I had a realistic chance last year," Kevin said.

Now that he's got the title, what will he do?

Hall said he would tell his friends and party Friday night - but not too late. He has to play in the Glenview club championship this morning.

And his father?

"I'm going home, going to bed."

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E-mail ckane@enquirer.com