Sep. 19—The defending champions won’t get an opportunity to win another state title — as a team.
Four Madison Central players, however, still have a chance to play for individual Kentucky High School Athletic Association championships.
Lexington Christian Academy (+20, 308) won the Region 9 Tournament title on Tuesday at the University Club of Arlington in Richmond, beating out Lexington Catholic (+21) by just one stroke.
Central took third, posting a score of +22, 310.
Only the top two teams for each region advance to the first round of the state tournament, but the top 10 individuals from each region not from the first or second-place teams also move on.
So, Madison Central sophomores Haley Federspiel, Mollie Neeley, Mackenzie Federspiel and Aubrey Barrow, along with Madison Southern senior Kasey Cameron will compete next Monday at the Winchester Country Club.
“The sad part is we don’t get to continue as a group,” Madison Central coach Tennye Ohr said.
LCA, Catholic and Central were — as expected — together at the top of the leaderboard for the entire round on Tuesday.
The Lady Indians took an early lead behind the play of Haley Federspiel. The sophomore had birdies on No. 2 and 5 and added another on No. 15.
“She played her best round of the year,” Ohr said of Haley Federspiel. “She kept it together and was cool, calm and collected throughout the round. I think she should be very proud of herself.”
Haley Federspiel finished with an even-par 72 and tied for second place.
Henry Clay’s Kylan Lunsford took the individual title after finishing as the only player in the field under par (-1, 71).
Neeley had a pair of double bogeys (No. 5 and 11), but also had two birdies. She posted a score of +6, 78, and tied for ninth place.
Mackenzie Federspiel and Cameron shot rounds of +7, 79, and tied for 11th.
Cameron got off to a rough start. The senior posted a three bogey on No. 2, then had bogeys on No. 4 and 5.
“I had a beautiful tee shot (on No. 2), then I got into the sand,” Cameron said. “It took three shots to get out. I ended up with an eight, but I just tried to keep a good attitude and stay positive.”
Cameron had birdies on No. 10 and 15 before a bogey on No. 17.
Mackenzie Federspiel was just two over through 13 holes, but closed with three bogeys and one double bogey.
Barrow had a birdie on No. 1 and made the turn at +1. The sophomore, though, had two double bogeys on back nine and four bogeys.
Model Laboratory senior Kyle Pirtle just missed the cut to earn a spot in the first round of the state. She didn’t have a birdie, but posted only one double bogey on the way to a +12, 84.
Central senior Abi Buchanan also came up just short of a chance to go to state. She shot a +13, 85, in her final high school tournament.
The Lady Indians shot a combined score of 185 on the front nine on Tuesday, with five birdies. They had just one birdie on the back nine and had a total score of 197.
Christy Ann Carter and Caroline Lankford each had birdies on No. 18 to help LCA claim the title.
“We knew it was going to be a dogfight — and it was. It was all day,” Ohr said. “We had a great score. We shot one of our lowest rounds of the year.”
LCA, Central and Catholic dominated the field.
Franklin County finished fourth with a score of 331. Woodford County (352) was fifth and Madison Southern was sixth (364).
Southern’s Aysia Brock shot a +18, 90. Maci Northern finished at 95. Hailey Allen shot a 100 and Lily Clark had a score of 127.
