For the Miami Valley League championship, the six league teams traveled to Miamisburg to play the Mound Course. Twenty-four golfers teed off that day, and by the end of the afternoon, Kerns was again leading the pack. Bill Ross reported for the Sidney Daily News on May 8th that Kerns had fired a 77 - an amazing eight strokes better than his nearest competitor. Having earned medallist honors, he was awarded first prize: a single golf ball.

Even golfers on a Tiger Woods type of run falter on occasion. Against Lima Central on the Shawnee course in Lima, Kerns was bested by teammate Les Valentine for medallist honors. Bernie tied his opponent, however, to keep his unbeaten streak alive. That would be the closest he would come to losing a match. During the next week the talk among the golfers was about the upcoming match between Kerns and Don Pendergast of Lima South, Sidney's next opponent. Pendergast, a seasoned senior, had not lost a high school match in three years. Sophomore Kerns was on a roll, but to beat Pendergast would be a tall order.