Nine-hole players impress in opening round of Lou Perry Tour Championship.

GEORGETOWN, KY (October 15, 2022) – Firm conditions at Cherry Blossom Golf Club coupled with some gusty winds presented a strong challenge to competitors of the Lou Perry Tour Championship. The Kentucky PGA Junior Tour’s final major of the season began with a good test, yet the vast amount of talent within the state’s youth was fully seen through the day’s challenges.

Perhaps the best indicator of this was shown among the tournament’s nine-hole competitors, with nine players who are twelve years of age or younger all shooting even or under-par scores in their respective divisions.

All of these players are 12 years of age or younger and shot even-par or better today. 🤯

Cade Wilson
Grant Guetig
Finn Johnson
Andrew Perry
Luke Ebel
Carol Ann Mendenhall
Matthew White
Max DeHaven
Greyson Cloern

The future is bright in Kentucky golf! pic.twitter.com/dR1IOhFBi9

— Kentucky Junior Golf (@JuniorGolfKY) October 15, 2022

Cade Wilson was the low player among all those contestants and leads the Boys 11-12 Division after shooting 34 (-2). After seven straight pars to open his round, he made birdie on the 8^th and 9^th holes to take a one-stroke lead over Guetig, Johnson and Perry.

Carol Ann Mendenhall has a two-stroke lead in the Girls 10-12 Division after firing 35 (-1). In pursuit of a sweep in her division’s majors this season, she made a birdie on her opening hole and parred in to hold the overnight advantage over Mary Clayton Rodgers.

The Boys 10 & Under Division features a three-way tie at the top going into Sunday’s final round after White, DeHaven and Cloern all shot 35 (-1) to open the championship. Paxton Fuqua, Hayden Li and Luke Elliott are on their heels and lurk just two strokes behind them.

On the older side where the overall championships are up for grabs, Boys 16-18 points leader Zach Watterson demonstrated why he’s the Player of the Year frontrunner with a leading round of 73 (+1). Three birdies were featured on his scorecard as he plays for his second major championship of the season and second straight Player of the Year honor. Jace Patrick trails him by one shot.

Athena Singh continues her run of good play in the Girls 16-18 Division with a five-stroke advantage after round one. The Morehead star shot 73 (+1) with fifteen pars on her scorecard in a consistent effort from the soon-to-be Player of the Year in her division. Morgan Kennedy is her closest pursuer.

Will Judd is going for the Grand Slam in the Boys 13-15 Division and got off to a very promising start with a score of 70 (-2). After beginning his day with a bogey, five birdies throughout the remainder of his round helped get him in front by two strokes with Brody Alexander holding steady in second place.

Attempting to win for the fifth time in five starts this season, Mackenzie Federspiel began on the right foot in the Girls 13-15 Division. A round of 76 (+4) from her gives her a two-stroke advantage over Sophie Hollowell heading into the last round.

Harrison Carlton and Redick Johnson share the lead in the Boys 8 & Under Division after matching scores of 37 (+1) from each player. Also in the mix is Judd Johnson who is within shouting distance in third place trailing by one.

Parker Haddix shot 41 (+5) to take the early lead in the Girls 9 & Under Division. Kylie Miller trails her by one while Charlie Hix is also very much in contention just three shots behind Haddix.

NOTES & STATS

• Two eagles were made during Saturday’s play. Dylan Logsdon snatched one on the par-five 5^th while Matthew White finished his day with an eagle on the par-five 9^th.
• Hole 9 was the easiest of the day with a stroke-to-par average of +0.28. Thirteen birdies were made in addition to White’s eagle.
• The island green par-three 12^th was the hardest hole at +1.25.
• In part because of the 12^th, the back nine was the much more difficult side on Saturday as it averaged 42.38 strokes (+6.38) in comparison to 40.18 (+4.18) on holes 1-9.
• The course average for Saturday was 82.56 (+10.56).

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About Kentucky Junior Golf:
Kentucky Junior Golf is part of the Kentucky Golf Foundation, one of three organizations that comprises Golf House Kentucky. Kentucky Junior Golf includes the state’s top tournaments and programs for the state’s golfers aged 18 or younger, featuring the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour, Youth on Course, the Youth on Course caddie program, PGA Jr. League, and Drive, Chip & Putt. Kentucky Junior Golf is dedicated to introducing Kentucky’s youth to the game of golf, providing resources to further enjoyment within the sport, and developing the skills necessary for players to thrive both on and off the golf course.

Media Contact:
Ethan Fisher, PGA | Golf House Kentucky | efisher@kygolf.org | (502) 792-9703