By ROCKY STANLEY � The Independent
MEADS — Grant McKenzie didn�t take any chances Monday in the Eastern Kentucky Junior Golf Association Walmart Tour season opener.
McKenzie, from Russell, came away with first place in the Boys Grade 10-12 division at Sandy Creek Golf Course. Last year, he lost a sudden-death playoff to Morehead�s Jared Stacy in the same tournament after playing the wrong ball in the fairway.
�Today, I put my initials on every ball,�� McKenzie said with a smile. �I was thinking about playing with neon golf balls so there wouldn�t be any confusion.��
McKenzie shot a 4-over-par 74 this time, good enough for a one-shot victory over Russell High School teammate Kent Shepard and Olive Hill�s Matt Logan.
�I hit the ball solid,�� McKenzie said. �I missed a lot of putts I should have made, but overall I�m content with my play.��
No playoff, no problem.
�That would have been a little ironic,�� said McKenzie, sharing a laugh with Shepard.
McKenzie�s round included birdies on No. 4 and No. 17. He also did some nice work on No. 5 to save par.
�I hit a 3-wood over the green and ended up making about a 20-footer,�� McKenzie said.
The tournament had 75 entries and attracted players from several eastern Kentucky counties.
�That�s a very good number, considering the extended school year in some of the systems,�� said EKJGA founder Tom Cooksey. �We had a good amount of volunteers to get the kids around the golf course in a decent amount of time.��
The addition of summer interns Kaci Boyd and Ryan Brookshire � both Marshall University golfers � has helped lighten Cooksey�s work load at the outset of the tour�s second year.
Paintsville�s Katy Humphrey repeated as champion in the Girls Grade 10-12 division.
Humphrey, who tied for 20th place in the State High School Tournament last fall, shot 75 to win by 12 strokes over Candace Stacy of Hazard.
�I played a good round,�� said Humphrey, 17. �I�m glad to start the year off right in this tournament.��
Last year, Humphrey finished with a 79 at Sandy Creek. This time, she parred all three par-5s and had nothing above a five on her scorecard.
�I think that�s my first round ever without a double bogey,�� Humphrey said. �I was surprised with my chipping and putting, especially on the back. The fairways and roughs were in good shape for the amount of rain we�ve been having.��
Humphrey birdied No. 16 after hitting one of her longest drives of the day.
Other winners included: Tyler Smith (Boys Grade 7-9); Hunter Holbrook (Boys Grade 4-6); Natalie Conley (Girls Grade 7-9); Kristina Bentley (Girls Grade 4-6); Joe Benton (Boys and Girls Grade 3-under).
The EKJGA Walmart Tour�s second event is Friday at River Bend Golf Club.
ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.
