The 2025 KHSAA golf season is underway and Ryle’s boys golf team got off to a promising start.
The Raiders finished tied for second out of 19 teams at the Blue Bird Invitational at the Big Blue Course at the University Club of Kentucky in Lexington. Ryle shot two-over as a team, tying with Louisville Eastern as St. Xavier was the going away winner at 16-under-par. The Raiders won the tiebreaker over Eastern as their fifth man’s score was better (top four scores count in tournament play).
Ryle was led by Paxton McKelvey’s five-under 67 and finishing in second place. McKelvey carded six birdies with just one bogey and 11 pars in his round, three strokes off medalist Luc Kelty from St. Xavier.
All five Raiders shot in the 70’s or below. Following McKelvey’s 67 was Thomas Leone with an even-par 72, Hayden Li with a 75, Jake Roscoe a 76 and Chandler James with a 77. All five placed in the top 40 out of 99 golfers in the field. Leone tied for 12th, Li tied for 28th, Roscoe tied for 32nd and James tied for 35th.
Ryle is coming off a runner-up finish in the region tournament last season and qualifying for the first round of the state tournament. They return four of their top five from last season in McKelvey, Leone, Li and Roscoe.
Covington Catholic, Highlands, Bishop Brossart and Beechwood also participated in the invitational. CovCath finished eighth at 20-over, Highlands and Bishop Brossart tied for 15th at 45-over, and Beechwood was 18th at 83-over.
CovCath’s Joseph Mangine was the only other NKY golfer to finish under par, carding a one-under 71 and finishing in a tie for seventh. Highlands’ Alex Race tied for 25th with a two-over 74. CovCath’s Brady Pagnotto tied for 28th with a 75, Bishop Brossart’s Collin Parks in a tie for 41st with CovCath’s Connor Hollenkamp with 78’s.
The 2025 KHSAA golf season got underway on Monday. The Highlands Invitational takes place on Wednesday at the Pioneer Course at the Courses of Kenton County.