It has been a busy week for Charlie Kern. The Mercer Island High School sophomore is almost done with school for the year and is heading to the 3A state golf tournament in Richland tomorrow, plus he just returned from winning an international title at the Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Fla.

As a member of the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT), Kern has been competing around the country throughout the year in the 13 to 15 age division, posting solid finishes at courses in California, South Carolina and Florida. Because of strong finishes at these various events, Kern was invited to play in the IJGT Tournament of Champions in Florida over Memorial Day weekend. Tyson Peters, the MIHS boys golf coach, described the event as the Masters for junior golfers.

“All the best golfers from around the world are invited. The fact that he was even invited there was a big deal,” said Peters en route to the state tournament.

At the Tournament of Champions, Kern was fifth headed into the final day of the competition, posting a 72 on the first day and a 74 on day two. Peters said that heading into the last day, the guy holding onto first place was 10 under, making a finish any higher than fifth for Kern seem unlikely.

“Charlie went out on the final day and got hot,” said Peters. “It was unbelievable.”

In the end, Kern finished two strokes ahead of the second-place finisher from Florida and was 9 under, overall, for a day three total of 61.

“It was almost the perfect round of golf,” Peters said.

Kern’s finish was an all-time low score for anyone competing the IJGT, said Peters, and to add to it, Kern tied Tiger Woods’ record for an all-time low score at the Grand Cypress Resort. The night before the final day, Kern was honored as the most improved golfer on the IJGT.

Returning to town, Kern quickly had to refocus his attention to a slightly smaller stage, the state tournament. Kern was the only qualifier from the Mercer Island boys team this year. Peters said that in the last four to five years, the school has sent numerous golfers from the boys team and is usually “in the hunt for the team championship.” While Peters said that in years past he was always excited to be going for the team title, he rarely felt that there was a member of the team who had a solid shot at the individual title.

“I really feel like Charlie could win the individual title,” he said.

Kern has an 8:42 a.m. tee time tomorrow morning at the Meadow Springs Country Club. He finished ninth overall at the district tournament last fall.