No Northern Kentucky boys golf teams advanced to the final rounds of the state tournament in Bowling Green, but six individuals did during the first round of play at Kenton County’s Willows Course on Monday.
The three teams to advance were St. Xavier, CAL and Central Hardin. Covington Catholic missed out by three strokes with a 313. St. Xavier shot a 293, CAL a 298 and Central Hardin a 310. St. Xavier is the defending state champion.
Only the top three teams in the eight-team sectional field made it to the second and third round from the three sectionals played across the state on Monday.
Ryle shot a 323 as a team and finished fifth. Highlands and Newport Central Catholic tied for seventh with a 330.
PHOTOS: Slideshow provided by Charles Bolton
Who’s headed to state?
The next 15 best individuals not on St. Xavier, CAL or Central Hardin qualified for state as individuals.
The six-man contingent from NKY to qualify for the next rounds was led by Walton-Verona’s Adam Gutman. Gutman shot a three-over 75 and finished tied for 10th. Gutman’s day consisted of a birdie, four bogeys and 13 pars. He avoided any big numbers and stayed steady, including pars on nine straight holes. This will be Gutman’s second straight trip to the final rounds. He finished 83rd last year.
Covington Catholic’s Carson White, Joseph Mangine and St. Henry’s Parker Isaacs all finished tied for 14th with four-over 76’s.
White’s round was led by his start as he was one-over through 12 holes thanks to a birdie on the par-5, 12th hole. Double bogeys on 14 and 16 put him right at the cut line at five-over, but he came in clutch on No. 18 with a birdie to finish four-over. White’s round showed the depth of the Colonels team. Last week at the Region 7 tournament, his score didn’t qualify for the Colonels top four with an 83. He did come in clutch with a birdie in the playoff with Ryle to clinch the region title. On Monday, he was tied for the top score on the Colonels. This will be his first trip to Bowling Green.
Mangine will be making a third straight trip to Bowling Green, avoiding any big numbers on Monday and finishing his round with a birdie, five bogeys and 12 pars. He was two-over at the turn and remained there after a birdie on No. 12. He bogeyed 14 and 15 before settling down with three straight pars to close out his round. He tied for 78th at the final rounds of the state tourney last year and 60th in his sophomore year.
St. Henry’s Parker Isaacs was flirting near the top five of the leaderboard for the majority of his round. He was even in his front nine and even through 13 holes with a birdie, bogey and 11 pars. He bogeyed four of his final five holes, but his solid play early on earned him a top 15 finish. This will also be his third straight state tourney in Bowling Green. Isaacs tied for 71st at the final rounds of the state tourney last year and 88th as a sophomore. Isaac’s is right on the edge of the top 20 in All-State points. He has 590 points and is in 24th. A top 20 finish in the points standings would put him on the KGCA All-State second team.
The top golfer throughout the season in NKY Hayden Li is also on his way to Bowling Green for a third straight season. The Raiders sophomore finished with a five-over 77, placing in a tie for 19th. Li finished with two birdies, five bogeys, a double bogey and 10 pars. As an eighth grader, Li finished tied for 57th at the final rounds of state. As a freshman, Li was NKY’s top finisher in a tie for 32nd. He’s currently 15th in All-State points, a top 20 finish would secure him a spot on the All-State second team. A top 10 finish could vault him onto the first team.
Last but not least is Dixie Heights’ Jack Woolwine. Woolwine survived a four-man playoff with a six-over 78 and tied for 24th, making his first trip to Bowling Green. Woolwine’s round consisted of two birdies, five bogeys, a double bogey and 10 pars. Woolwine is also flirting with the All-State second team, currently 23rd in the standings with 600 points.
The final two rounds of the boys state tournament is Oct. 6-7 at Bowling Green Country Club. Players will get a practice round on Monday, Oct. 5.
