The Henderson County Lady Colonels golf team faced stiff competition from not only its regional challengers, but also from Mother Nature on Monday. In the end, the Lady Cols were able to stave off rain and lightning delays and come away with a runner-up finish at the 2nd region tournament on their home course at Henderson Country Club.
With an overall score of 321, Henderson was able to punch its ticket to next week’s semi-state competition. They finished behind regional champion Daviess County, who recorded a team score of 302.
Leading the way as she has all season was junior Meryl Grogan. She captured the individual regional title with a one-under 71, becoming the first Lady Col to do so since her coach Payton Carter-Knight did so in 2017.
“I was really nervous on the 18th green because I was about to be done and I knew it was close, but it actually felt really good,” said Grogan. “We all kept really good attitudes. We had to be patient with all the weather conditions…We all just tried to play our game and had a very good outcome.”
In a fateful twist, Grogan’s win was a near mirror reflection of her coach’s win eight years ago. This time, on Henderson Country Club’s 18th hole, runner-up Claire Reynolds from Daviess County saw a three-foot putt just lip out. According to head coach Jessica Grace, it was the exact same scenario that led to Carter-Knight’s championship: the opponent lipping out a three-foot putt on the 18th green at Henderson Country Club.
“I said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ This is exactly what happened when I was there with Payton in 2017,” said Grace reminiscing.
Supporting Grogan were her long-time teammates junior Ainsley Dalton, who shot a 79 and finished 7th, senior Lucy Whitfield with an 11th place score of 83, and senior Cameron Davis with an 88, good for 15th.
Dalton showed “toughness and fortitude” according to Grace. On a day where she did not have her best stuff, she still managed a good score, representing the “growth and maturity” she developed through the year.
Grace spoke highly of Whitfield’s great attitude and positivity throughout Monday too, describing her as someone who is always “hard on herself.” That mindset allowed her to be on top of her game on a day when conditions were less than favorable.
Speaking on Davis, Carter-Knight said, “I’ve never seen that girl play so well coming down the stretch…Cameron was our deciding factor all year. To have her finish the way she did was honestly just a testament to who she is.”
The Lady Cols will now begin preparations for the semi-state tournament which will take place at Calvert City Country Club on Monday, September 29. A strong performance could result in advancing to the state tournament in Bowling Green.
“The girls set a goal of making it to semi-state this year,” said Carter-Knight. “They reached that goal. Now we are just playing our best golf. We’re going to go out there and have fun. I think we have had a successful season. If it ends next week we won’t have any regrets.”
“We’ve got an outside chance to make it out as a team,” added Grace. “We’re going up against probably the top five teams in the state from regions 1, 2, 3, and 4. There is a chance that many of our girls could go as individuals to the state tournament.”
