The Woodford County High School girls’ golf team accomplished one of its biggest goals of the season, competing against some of Kentucky’s top programs at the Kentucky Golf Coaches Association All-State Championship at the University Club of Kentucky Sept. 12-13.
The Yellow Jackets finished 11th overall after earning their place in the two-day championship through their season performance. The KGCA’s All-State points system rewards strong, consistent performances throughout the regular season and postseason.
Making the All-State Championship was something Woodford coach Doug LaRue and his team had targeted from the beginning.
“That’s one of our big goals this year,” LaRue said. “When we first started talking about making All-State, it was something that would define our year.”
For a veteran Woodford team, LaRue said accomplishing that goal mattered even more while the group had the opportunity.
“We did it,” LaRue said. “We fought our way all over both courses two days in a row.”
Woodford finished the championship with rounds of 362 and 371 for a two-day total of 733.
Abigail Caine led Woodford both days, opening with an 84 on the Big Blue Course Saturday before shooting an 80 on the Wildcat Course Sunday.
Caine started Saturday’s round on No. 10 and played her first nine in 46. After making the turn to No. 1, she rallied back and made back-to-back birdies on the par-4 first and second holes. Caine played Nos. 1-9 in 2-over 38 to finish with an 84.
She followed with an 80 on the par-71 Wildcat Course Sunday and birdied the par-5 first hole and recorded seven pars during the round to finish the championship with a two-day total of 164.
Graysen Kerr made a six-shot improvement Sunday, following an opening-round 97 with a 91. Her second round included seven pars, five of them coming on Nos. 11-16. Kerr finished with a two-day total of 188.
Rylee Knehr provided Woodford’s second-lowest score Saturday with an 86. Starting on No. 10, Knehr opened the tournament with a birdie on the par-4 and added seven pars during the round. She finished the championship with a 190 total.
Katelyn Hayes contributed counting scores in both rounds for Woodford, shooting 95 Saturday and 98 Sunday for a 193 total. Hayes made pars on Nos. 3 and 10 Saturday and added another on the par-3 11th Sunday.
Harper Lacefield rounded out Woodford’s five-player lineup. Lacefield shot 104 Saturday and improved to 102 Sunday, when her score counted toward the Yellow Jackets’ team total. She finished the weekend with a 206 total.
For LaRue, however, the weekend represented more than scores and a place in the standings. He pointed to what his players showed while working their way through 36 holes on two courses.
“I think they don’t know until they’re older that grit and determination is going to find a lot more success in their life than just winning a golf tournament,” LaRue said. “I’m really proud of them.”