Eighth-grader and UK commit lead stunning finish at boys’ state golf
Taylor County overcame a day-one deficit and a big second-day hole to walk away with its first team state title at this year’s Leachman Buick-GMC-Cadillac/KHSAA Boys’ State Golf Championships on Saturday.
The Cardinals trailed St. Xavier — the all-time record holder with 21 state titles and three of the last four before this season — by three strokes after the first round of play on Friday. They were down 10 strokes to the Tigers through the front nine Saturday at Bowling Green Country Club.
“I just talked to each one of the kids and told them to keep being positive,” Taylor County Coach Scott Parks said of his team’s strong finish on the back side. “... We had a great run from hole 15 to 18.”
Taylor County finished with a 16-over 592 overall, two strokes better than the Tigers, who shot 12 strokes higher on day two than day one. Taylor County was only four strokes worse as a unit in the second round.
Eighth-grader Luke Coyle led Taylor County’s cause with an even-par 144 over the two rounds to finish third overall. He had only one bogey on the back nine and had a birdie on No. 14, a par-5.
Cardinals senior Cooper Parks, who’s committed to the University of Kentucky, placed in the top 10 with a 4-over 148. He bogeyed holes 10, 11 and 12 but finished with birdies on 14 and 16.
“Today was a perfect example of how team golf’s won,” Parks said. “One guy’s not gonna do it for you.”
Before he was a PGA Tour pro, former University of Kentucky golfer J.B. Holmes was a star at Taylor County. He won the school’s only individual golf title 20 years ago.
“I’m so happy for our school and Campbellsville Country Club,” Parks said. “And we’re so proud to represent him and his caddy Brandon Parsons (also a Campbellsville native).”
Trinity junior John Marshall Butler won the individual title after finishing under par both days of the event. He was Trinity’s third individual champ and first since 1979.
Butler shot a 5-under 139 to fend off second-place finisher CM Mixon, a South Warren senior and Louisville commit who shot 142. Lexington Christian Academy junior Jansen Preston, last year’s individual champ, shot 145 to finish in a tie for fourth place with Madison Central eighth-grader Clay Pendergrass.
LCA, last year’s team champ and this year’s 9th Region winner, finished third overall with a 602. Madison Central, the 9th Region runner-up, was fourth with a 613 while Ballard rounded out the top five with a 615.
Montgomery County, the champion out of the 12th Region, finished sixth overall.
Scott County senior Brody Webb, competing as an individual, finished in a tie for 10th overall.
Click here for complete boys’ state golf team results.
Click here for complete boys’ state golf individual results.
This story was originally published October 6, 2018 at 4:56 PM.