The best boys golf teams from the first, second, third and fourth regions gathered at The Cullan at Mineral Mounds on Saturday for the Semi State Preview. With the first round of the KHSAA State tournament less than 30 days away, teams are looking to hone in their skills to compete for a state title.
For the McCracken County Mustangs, their skills seem to be as honed in as ever as they won the event with a team score of 304 on one of the hardest courses around. They narrowly edged out Taylor County who finished second with a 306 and Owensboro in third with a 307.
“I think last year we showed up here and I don’t know if we had anyone break 80, so it was nice to see the improvement and see them think a little more mature on the golf course,” McCracken County head coach Chris Gregory said. “I think this golf course speaks volumes to Cullan Brown, who he was and the type of golf that he played and why he did some of the things that he did. It’s a testament to the game that kid had.”
Leading the Mustangs and the field was Landon Hunt who shot the only under-par score with a 1-under-par 71. He also edged out a pair of even pars from Allen County-Scottsville and Taylor County.
“I feel good,” Hunt said. “I feel like I put it all together today on one of the toughest courses we play all year. It takes a lot of discipline to play a course like this, so I think today was a great step moving forward.
Jack Farmery followed Hunt with a 2-over-par 74, Dallas Vinson shot a 79 and Tanner Kight shot an 80, with Brently Gregory adding an 87.
“This was really good for us as a team as well,” Hunt said. “There was some really good competition out there, a lot of good teams and I think it was another good step forward for the team as well.”
Joining the Mustangs from the First Region included the Marshall County Marshals, St. Mary Vikings and Paducah Tilghman Blue Tornado.
The Marshals shot a team 320 behind Ryan Stokes shooting a 79. Brooks Lamb and Kyzer Phillips each added 80’s, Paxton Carter put up an 81 and Nolan Hurst shot a 90.
For St. Mary, Liam Stewart led with a 90, Jack Stewart shot a 99, Henry Wright added 106 and Cash Miller shot 113.
Tilghman had just three golfers in the field. Peyton Toon led with a 75, Whitson McNeill added an 86 and Ford Black shot a 96.
Grave’s County’s Maddux O’Guinn competed as an individual, shooting an 82 and Murray High’s Ian Dahncke shot a 77 to represent the Tigers.
With the first round of the state tournament set for September 30 at Hopkinsville Golf and Country Club, chances are many of the teams in competition from this tournament will be meet again at the end of the month.