The Lady Jackets placed fifth in the 9th Region golf tournament Monday, Sept. 21 at The Woodford Club. The Lady Jackets have been a top-15 team in the state all season and finished appropriately in fifth place in the 9th Region, where they’ve been all season.
Woodford Coach Doug LaRue said playing the regional tournament on the Yellow Jackets’ home course brought high expectations. Still, he was most proud of how his golfers handled the difficult moments throughout the round.
“Their scores weren’t what we all wanted them to be in the end,” LaRue said. “Character prevails.”
LaRue said that character has been a theme for a group he described as special, with seniors leading the way and younger golfers mixed into the lineup.
“Special group,” LaRue said. “The amazing combination of personalities and abilities on this team is fun. It’s been a great year.”
Abigail Caine saved her best golf for the second half of her round Monday, shooting a 38 over her final nine holes to earn a spot in the first round of the state tournament.
Caine finished with a nine-over part 81 to lead Woodford. She opened with a 43 on the back nine before finding a rhythm after making the turn.
Caine began her final nine with a par on No. 1 before a bogey on the second. She then put together her best stretch of the tournament, making four consecutive pars on holes three through six.
On the par-four seventh, she went one better with a birdie. She finished her final nine with a 38 to secure her place in the first round of the state tournament.
Grayson Kerr came close to joining Caine at state and finished as the first alternate after shooting an 85, losing a playoff to Franklin County’s Lyla Hardesty for the final spot in the upcoming tournament.
Kerr opened with a 45 over holes 10 through 18 before making a charge on her final nine. She birdied the par-five first and followed with three consecutive pars. She added another par on No. 6 and shot a 40 over her final nine.
Katelyn Hayes finished one stroke behind Kerr with an 86 and earned the second alternate position.
Hayes got off to the quickest start of the Woodford golfers, opening her tournament with a birdie on the par-five 10th. She followed with a par on No. 11 and added another at No. 14 on the way to a 42 over her opening nine.
She made three more pars after the turn and shot a 44 over her final nine.
Rylee Knehr finished with an 89. Knehr shot a 44 over her opening nine and a 45 over her final nine, making pars on Nos. 11, 14 and 3 during her round.
Harper Lacefield rounded out Woodford’s lineup with a 99. Lacefield made a pair of pars during her round, recording them on the par-five 14th and par-three second.
Caine will represent WCHS in the first round of the state tournament at Stonecrest Golf Course in Prestonburg Tuesday, Sept. 29, while Kerr and Hayes remain in position as the first and second alternates, respectively.