Reese Anthony, a multiple GCGA girls player of the year, could be on her way to another honor this season. Photo provided | GCGA

The kids are alright. Who are they? They’re the young golfers gripping it and ripping it across the courses this summer. They’re winning big with low scores, diligence and elegance. Here’s a look at some of the best in the area, from Hebron to Union, and their recent exploits. We also take a swing at some adult news in the form of recent coaching hires. Fore!

DIVISION WINNER ANTHONY THIRD AT MET JUNIOR GIRLS

Reese Anthony is in the tee box, folks. And she’s plowing through competition, again. The up-and-comer from Hebron added yet another piece of hardware to her crowded trophy case last week. She won the 13-15 Age Division crown at the 63rd Greater Cincinnati Golf Association Metropolitan Junior Girls Championship. Play was at Stillmeadow Country Club in Cincinnati, and Anthony was on her A game.

Anthony, in the St. Henry High School class of 2031, won her age group by a whopping 17 shots. The incoming seventh grader carded 78 the first round and 82 the second for a two-day score of 160. Rachel Lunn from Ohio was runner-up at 177. After Anthony, the next best score in the age group by a northern Kentucky girl was 224 by Abigail Gibson, from the Notre Dame Academy class of 2030.

Anthony played so well that she finished third overall in the Metropolitan Junior Girls standings against many players much older. Anthony’s 160 trailed tournament winner Jenna Lynch by eight shots. Lynch, an incoming senior at Little Miami (OH), shot 152. Anthony was just three shots behind runner-up Andie Baumann, a rising junior at Owen County. To give an idea of Anthony’s ability and potential, Baumann placed third at last season’s KHSAA 8th Region Championship.

Anthony was 11 shots ahead of fourth-place Charlotte Soller, who’ll be a senior at Mariemont (OH). NDA’s Gibson finished eighth overall at the Met Junior Girls.

Elsewhere around the links:

UNION’S LI HOT OFF THE TEE

Hayden Li is another young local golfer to keep an eye on as he moves up through the ranks at Ryle. Photo provided | GCGA

Union youngster Hayden Li also was an age group winner at Stillmeadow. Li won the Boys Age 13-15 Division crown and finished in a three-way tie for second overall at the 84th Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Junior Boys Championship. A student at Gray Middle School, Li carded a two-round score of 5-under-par 145.

Li, who plays prep golf at Ryle, shot par-70 the first day. He wound up finishing one shot behind overall winner Blake Rohling, a rising sophomore at Roger Bacon (OH). Rohling shot 144 but couldn’t match Li’s 70 over 18 holes, carding 71-73.

PAIR OF COLONELS COMPETITIVE

Dixie Heights’ Jack Woolwine is holding his own against older players. Photo provided | GCGA

We’re back on the Jack Woolwine watch and the Dixie Heights standout has continued to be tee-rific. In a tough field of mostly older golfers, Woolwine placed 16th in the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Junior Boys Ages 16-18 Division tournament. Woolwine, an incoming junior for the Colonels, shot 78 and 80. That was good for a two-round total of 158 at Stillmeadow. He was 13 shots behind winner Landon Meiners, a recent Elder (OH) grad. Woolwine’s 158 tied for 24th overall at the Met Junior Boys.

Matt Noe, a Colonel of a different stripe, tied for 18th in the Met Junior Boys 13-15 Age Division event. Noe, a rising Covington Catholic sophomore, shot 172. Noe shot 83 the first day and finished in a four-way tie for 51st overall at the Met Junior. A total of 90 golfers signed up for the annual event.

RAIDER WINS IN LEXINGTON

Thomas Leone from Ryle is one happy golfer and for good reason. Photo provided | KPGA

Union’s Thomas Leone won the Boys Age 14-15 Division title at the 2025 Lexington Junior Championship. Some of the region’s top juniors gathered for two days of stroke play. The Kentucky PGA Junior Tour event teed off at Kearney Hill Golf Links.

Leone, a rising Ryle sophomore, rallied to shoot even-par 72 the second day, bringing his two-round total to 5-over-par 149. Leone carded three birdies the final round and they all mattered. He won by a single shot.

NEW COACHES READY TO ROLL

Jeff Jackson is adding to his duties at Scott High School. Photo provided | Scott athletics

Scott High School has named Jeff Jackson the new girls golf coach. Jackson, a long-time teacher at Scott, was a late June hire. One of his first items of business was welcoming girls in grades 7-12 for tryouts. As a math instructor, Jackson is no stranger to crunching numbers, a skill he’ll bring to the scorecard this season.

Highlands is also starting the upcoming high school golf season with a new leader. The Bluebirds promoted Maleah Abner to head girls coach. She previously served as Highlands girls assistant the past two seasons.