(This article first appeared in the August print edition of the Hendersonian.)
The Henderson County High School girls golf team will rely on consistency and experience, as it looks to achieve a deep postseason run.
“We’ve grown as a team. I feel good going into the season. I want to make it to state,” said Meryl Grogan, who narrowly missed qualifying for state as an individual golfer last year.
The girls varsity golf team is made up of seniors Cameron Davis and Lucy Whitfield, alongside juniors Grogan and Ainsley Dalton.
The foursome, who has played together for three years, led HCHS to a runner-up finish at the region tournament, qualifying them for the first round of the state tournament last season.
“Meryl has super natural talent. She hits it a mile and is right up there at the top. Ainsley is going to shoot pretty consistently and be a good scorer,” said head coach Jessica Grace of her team’s talent. “Lucy and Cameron are our seniors this year. They have improved so much. I’m excited about our chances of going all the way to state this year.”
Also returning for the Lady Cols golf team as a coach is former star Payton Carter, now Payton Knight.
As a Colonel, Knight qualified for state every year from her eighth-grade season through her senior season.
Then, following in Grace’s footsteps, she attended Murray State where she was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2022 and the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2023, when the Racers switched conferences. She also won the Kentucky Women’s Amateur Championship in 2022.
“It’s really neat to get to coach with Mrs. Grace. It’s also cool because I babysat Meryl and Ainsley. Lucy and Cameron, I remember when they were little out here playing. It’s really full circle,” said Payton Knight.
Payton Knight, who coached the Murray Lady Tigers to the KY 2A State Championship last fall, feels that the Lady Cols have the talent to compete at the state championship this year.
Also coming to Henderson is Austin Knight, Payton’s husband, who will be joining the coaching staff for the HCHS boys golf team.
The golfing power couple played collegiately at Murray State. Austin Knight has four years of coaching experience, including coaching the Murray High School boys team.
Austin Knight was a six-year letterman at Hopkinsville High School, including earning 2015 All-State Honors. He was also an All-OVC performer for the Racers.
Head Coach Kevin Payne is glad to have Austin Knight on board and feels good about his returning group. The team finished sixth at the region tournament last season but hopes that experience and competitive spirit will be keys to greater success this year.
“We have three players with a lot of tournament experience and a group of five or six with a little bit of experience fighting for the other two spots,” Payne said.
Senior Jake Hayden and sophomore Mason Ranes will be seen as leaders on the team, along with junior Levi Smith.
Hayden and Ranes are an unlikely pair, due to the fact that Hayden has played golf his whole life while Ranes only took up the game about three years ago.
“I’ve got high expectations. I’d really like to win the region, be part of the all-state team, and finish high at state,” said Hayden, who missed a trip to state last fall by one stroke.
Knight expects all his players to put in the work outside of practice, hoping that some of the younger golfers will unexpectedly bloom and rise throughout the season.
“We’ve got a good group of kids that are going to work hard and be coachable. As long as we peak at the right time and push ourselves, I don’t see why we couldn’t go to Bowling Green,” said Knight.
Ranes knows how essential hard work is for a player to improve and ensure they are putting forth their best rounds.
“You have to save as many strokes and leave as much on the course as you can,” said Ranes. “I missed state by one or two shots last year. I’d like to go there and get that experience.”
Both the boys and girls HCHS golf teams hope to be in the thick of things when it comes time to compete in the region tournament. With their returning experience, and the additions of the Knights, there is great optimism and confidence surrounding both programs.
“I think that Henderson County, with Payton and Austin joining our team, has the best coaching staff in the state,” said Grace.
