Sep. 26—WINCHESTER — When performing on the big stage, sub-par work can still pay off.
After a challenging round at Winchester Country Club on Monday in the girls State First Round event, Lexington Christian’s Christy Ann Carter was the only golfer to finish under par.
“It’s kind of emotional and really special,” Carter said. “To have a great showing and now have a chance at State my senior year, it means a lot to me. I just have to thank my Lord, Jesus Christ for getting me to this point.”
The senior pulled ahead of the pack early, moving to 3-under-par through the first six holes before posting a 4-under-par 68 for the round.
Carter is looking forward to capping off her senior year at Bowling Green Country Club, especially since she missed the cut in last year’s opening round.
“Last year it was really hard getting knocked out in this round,” Carter said. “I just want to have two solid days of golf. I’m looking forward to finishing up my senior season by having one last fun ride with the girls.”
Finishing in second place was a golfer well-regarded in our area, Rowan County’s Athena Singh.
The sophomore was one of four area golfers who punched their tickets to the final round of the girls state golf championship.
“I feel like I could’ve done a lot better,” Singh said. “But I’m glad I was able to come back at it on the last few holes.”
Singh finished at even par with a 72. She was 1-under-par before hitting a rough stretch on the back nine. Singh bogeyed holes 12-14.
Despite the stumbling block, Singh was able to shake off the bogey hat trick by getting a nice birdie on 15 with a chip off the green.
“It was getting a little rough,” Singh said about that stretch. “That chip in on 15 was big. It really helped me get back some confidence.”
To put a bow on the round, and to get back even, Singh sank a birdie putt on 18 to close out her day.
“That felt great,” Singh said. “I felt like that was my chance to get back to par, so I just really wanted that putt to go in.”
Singh, who qualified for last year’s state championship round but could not attend, is looking forward to competing at the state’s highest level.
“I hope I can play my own game,” Singh said. “And maybe not hit as many drives into the trees. and hopefully make a lot more putts.”
Two area golfers finished tied for seventh place with a 4-over-par 76, Greenup County’s Cambria Burke and Boyd County’s Morgan Kennedy.
“The front nine went really well, but the back nine was a little more complicated,” Burke said. “There were a few shots I’d like to have back, but I followed through.”
Burke was even through the front nine but then faced those complications on the back nine. She managed to finish the round on a high note, however, sinking an impressive birdie putt on the 18th hole from long distance.
“I’m so happy about that,” Burke said of her closing putt. “I was not expecting that to sink in. I was just praying ‘Slow down, hit the hole,’ and it did.”
The senior hopes to collect herself with the championship round in her sights, and try to play a more poised round in Bowling Green.
“I want to calm down there and not have the bad balls that I had here,” Burke said. “I just need to play some consistent golf and stay calm.”
As for Kennedy, her stumbling points came on the front nine before finding a rhythm on the back half of the course.
“I feel really good, it was a lot better than last year,” Kennedy said. “I missed a lot of putts for birdie today. I had so many lip-outs and I’m probably going to beat myself up over it.”
Kennedy was even through the final eight holes of the round.
“I had those eight-straight pars in a row and I’m happy with that,” Kennedy said. “I birdied hole three, which was my only birdie of the day, but that definitely helped big time too.”
The trip to Bowling Green won’t be the first for Kennedy, who qualified the past three years for the event. The junior is hoping to improve on past appearances.
“I’m not looking to put any pressure on myself,” Kennedy said. “I made it, that’s all that matters. There’s no cutlines, so I’ll play my heart out and see what I can do.”
Rounding out the list of area qualifiers in East Carter’s Emi Ledford.
“I definitely played better than last year,” Ledford said. “The course was in better condition this year than last year, and the weather was a lot better. I had fun today and I’m excited for Bowling Green.”
Ledford hit a rough patch towards the end of the round to finish tied for 16th with a 9-over-par 81. Despite that, Ledford had some positive takeaways from the back nine.
“Hole 10 helped,” Ledford said. “I hit a really good second shot. My dad told me I could put it close for a birdie, so I was like, okay, I’ll do it, and I did. That made me feel good.”
The sophomore is looking forward to having a chance to make up for some shortcomings she says she had last year.
“Last year at Bowling Green I didn’t play really well, so I’m looking forward to redeeming myself,” Ledford said. “I just want to try to get in the low 80s, it’d be nice to be in the 70s, but I’m going to try to not put as many expectations on myself this year.”
Carter’s Lexington Christian won the team competition. Lexington Catholic and Montgomery County finished in second and third respectively. All three teams will send their golfers to the State Championship.
Paintsville’s Isabella Christy finished in sixth place with a 75 to advance to the final round. Fleming County’s Sadie Price and Ashland’s Laney Sorrell narrowly missed the qualifying score for the next round after posting solid scores at the Winchester Country Club.
Price turned in an 84 and Sorrell posted an 85.
For full results, visit khsaa.org/golf
The 2023 girls state golf championship will take place on Oct. 3 and 4 in Bowling Green and will be a two-round event.
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