The best male golfers from regions 1 through 4 converged on Calvert City Golf & Country Club on Tuesday for the sub-state round of the KHSAA Boys State Golf Championship. With three teams spots and 15 spots on the line, it was a win-or-go-home round, with many First Region golfers advancing to Bowling Green.
The McCracken County Mustangs secured their spot as a team moving forward, shooting a commanding 1-under-par 287 and winning outright by a staggering 13 strokes.
Leading the way for the Mustangs and leading the field for a First-place finish was senior Landon Hunt, carding a 7-under-par 65, winning outright by five strokes.
“I think around a round like today I’ve got a lot of it [confidence],” Hunt said. “It feels good and I hope we keep it up when we go to Bowling Green.”
While Hunt sank eight impressive birdies, one bogey slipped in, but through the ups and downs, he works hard at staying positive and not letting the bad shots get to him.
“I try not to get too high or too low, I just try to have a good time while I’m out there.”
Joining Hunt to help get the Mustangs to the top was Dallas Vinson, carding a 2-under-par 70 to land in solo second place. Jack Farmery landed in ninth with a 2-over-par 74, Evan Hack carded a 6-over-par 78 and Tanner Kight carded a 7-over-par 79 for good measure.
“They are playing well,” McCracken County head coach Chris Gregory said. “I think a few of them would have liked to play a little better than they did today, but today was more about getting to that next step and making sure they get to finish their season where they want to finish it.”
The Mustangs have earned multiple trips to Bowling Green for the state championship. This will be the third consecutive season that the Mustangs have earned the trip. Last season they finished third as a team and in 2023 they came in ninth. Coach Gregory says the experience his team has playing Bowling Green should do them well.
“Experience is huge,” Gregory said. “They’ve played that course a lot. They’ve played that course well sometimes and they’ve played it the other way as well, but hopefully next week will be a good week.”
Joining the Mustangs as a team will be the Marshall County Marshals, who finished third as a team on Tuesday with a 20-over-par 308. Paxton Carter led the charge with a 75, Brooks Lamb and Ryan Stokes each carded 76, Gage Norman added an 81 and Nolan Hurst added an 86 for good measure.
At the individual level, four others from the First Region will make their way to Bowling Green next week as qualifiers.
Murray will send three of their golfers, including Ian Dahncke who finished with a 1-under-par 71 for a fourth-place finish, Reed Jarvis finished T13 at 4-over-par 76 and Maddox Mitchell added a 5-over-par 77 for T19. Mayfield’s Rylan Crouch will join the pack after he carded a 1-over-par 73 to finish T6.
The final round of the KHSAA Boys State Championship is set for Friday and Saturday, October 10-11 at Bowling Green Country Club.
Of course many other First Region golfers hit the course, putting forward a strong effort, but falling short of qualifying. The following is a full list of all First Region golfers and their scores:
1. Landon Hunt, McCracken County, 65 (-7)
3. Dallas Vinson, McCracken County, 70 (-2)
4. Ian Dahncke, Murray, 71 (-1)
T6. Rylan Crouch, Mayfield, 73 (+1)
9. Jack Farmery, McCracken County, 74 (+2)
T10. Paxton Carter, Marshall County, 75 (+3)
T13. Reed Jarvis, Murray, 76 (+4)
T13. Ryan Stokes, Marshall County, 76 (+4)
T13. Brooks Lamb, Marshall County, 76 (+4)
T19. Maddox Mitchell, Murray, 77 (+5)
T23. Evan Hack, McCracken County, 78 (+6)
T26. Tanner Kight, McCracken County, 79 (+7)
T30. Maddux O’Guinn, Graves County, 80 (+8)
T36. Gage Norman, Marshall County, 81 (+9)
T50. Liam Stewart, St. Mary, 84 (+12)
T57. Hagen Hansen, Graves County, 85 (+13)
T67. Nolan Hurst, Marshall County, 86 (+14)
T75. Tyler Mueller, St. Mary, 91 (+19)
T78. Cooper Collins, Lyon County, 94 (+22)
80. Beckett O’Guinn, Graves County, 95 (+23)