The Kentucky high school golf season moves quickly, blazing from opening day on July 20 through the state tournaments on Oct. 10. Many teams made the turn into the back half of the regular‑season schedule last week, and the stretch run is fast approaching with postseason play beginning Sept. 21.
The 2026 All “A” Classic Statewide Golf Tournaments are already in the books after wrapping up play Sunday, which was not a day of rest for St. Henry. It was instead a day of domination for Lexington Christian Academy, which swept the boys and girls championships. Both St. Henry squads finished inside the top five at the annual small‑school events.
The Region 9 champion girls put together a third‑place finish with a team score of 372 at Arlington Golf Club in Richmond. St. Henry finished well behind champion Lexington Christian Academy (316) but was just six shots behind runner‑up University Heights Academy (366).
“Our third-place finish at the All “A” state tourney in Richmond was our highest finish in the history of the tournament,” girls coach Mary Beth Beimesch said. “All of us coaches are very proud of this achievement and proud of how our young ladies play with purpose.”
Reese Anthony’s score of 80 for the Crusaders earned her seventh place individually and the top score among local girls. She finished nine shots behind champion Kenzie Willen, who fired a 1‑under‑par 71 for Cumberland County. Anthony was just three shots behind runner‑up Grace Soale (77) of Lexington Christian Academy. Willen, a repeat champion, is a senior verbally committed to Eastern Kentucky University. Soale, also a senior, has verbally committed to Samford University.
Anthony is just an eighth grader, but she continues to look like a star in the making. She already owns many Greater Cincinnati Golf Association tournament wins and player‑of‑the‑year honors.
“While Reese is our low scorer, our team looks to senior Alexis Fassbender for her steady leadership,” Beimesch said. “Freshmen Ari Burton and Sophia Houp and junior Adalynn Osborne give us steadily improving scores. The Crusader family is excited to see what plays out on the course over the next few weeks.”
Burton (94), Fassbender (97), Houp (101) and Osborne (112) rounded out St. Henry’s scoring. Burton, Fassbender and Houp all placed in the top 40. A total of 93 girls played in the state event.
Region 10 champion Bishop Brossart finished 11th at the 12‑team girls tournament with a team score of 343. The Mustangs’ top finisher was Lucy Phirman, whose 111 placed her inside the top 50.
The St. Henry boys placed fifth in their event with a team score of 321 at Gibson Bay in Richmond. They finished 31 shots behind champion Lexington Christian Academy (290), 18 behind runner‑up Bethlehem (303), and six behind third‑place Hazard (315). Owensboro Catholic (318) took fourth.
Parker Isaacs led the Region 9 champion Crusaders with a 77, tying for 11th individually. Parker Lutz (81), Reed Stringer (81) and Sam Duckworth (82) followed, all finishing inside the top 40.
Hazard’s Waylon Clutts won the boys individual title with a four‑under‑par 68. He’s hot, having set a school record with a 63 on July 29 at the Rowan County Invitational at Eagle Trace. The next three finishers in the boys field were all from Lexington Christian Academy, led by Luke Ebel’s runner‑up 70.
The Bishop Brossart boys tied for 11th at the 16‑team event at Gibson Bay. Derek Bezold led the Mustangs with a 77, tying for 11th individually. It matched the top local score alongside Isaacs’ 77 for St. Henry and Logan Bach’s 77 for Walton‑Verona. Region 8 champion Walton‑Verona finished ninth in the team standings with a score of 334.
Evan Himmelsbach tied for 21st with a 78 after qualifying individually for Newport Central Catholic. Walton‑Verona’s Adam Gutman (81) placed just outside the top 40. A total of 112 boys participated in the statewide event.
2026 All‑State Points Reports
The Kentucky Golf Coaches Association updated its All‑State Points Report on Aug. 31, and several area high school standouts made the list.
St. Henry’s Parker Isaacs leads all local boys with 550 points, ranking him 16th statewide. He has placed in seven events. Isaacs sits two spots ahead of Ryle’s Hayden Li, who is 18th with 530 points on the strength of eight event placings. Dixie Heights’ Jack Woolwine is third among locals with 510 points, good for 20th overall. Ryle’s Thomas Leone is just outside the top 30 with 475, and Covington Catholic’s Joseph Mangine is inside the top 40 with 445.
Louisville St. Xavier’s Luc Kelty is the state’s overall boys points leader with 670 and has placed in 12 events. Hazard’s Waylon Clutts and Pulaski County’s Luke Ousley follow with 660 points each.
On the girls side, Ryle’s Elizabeth Dickson moved into the top 20 with 475 points, putting her 19th statewide and first locally. She has placed in eight events. Notre Dame Academy’s Maria Penaranda is next locally, ranking 21st with 425 points. She has seven event placings. St. Henry’s Reese Anthony is third among local girls with 245 points, putting her inside the top 45.
At the top of the statewide girls standings, it’s the Willen‑and‑Willa show. Cumberland County’s Kenzie Willen leads with 690 points, followed by Frederick Douglass’ Willa Borough with 670.
