MEADS —
Ashland’s Haley Webb opened her high school golf season the same way she finished the Eastern Kentucky Junior Golf Association summer tour.
Webb shot 82 to win the Ashland Tee Cat Invitational on a sun-baked Monday afternoon at Sandy Creek Golf Course.
The victory came three days after Webb led the way in the Grade 10-12 division at the EKJGA finale at Eagle Trace in Morehead.
“It’s a really good way to start out my season,” the senior said after leading Ashland to second place in the team standings behind Mason County.
The second-year tournament included 70 golfers from 15 schools.
Webb edged Mason County junior Lauren Vice by one shot for the individual title.
Paired in the same group, Webb and Vice had some extra time to collect themselves for the closing holes because of a backup on the No. 17 tee.
“I knew it was really close,” Webb said of the battle for medalist honors. “I told myself I had to get at least one par on the last two holes.”
She delivered by hitting a strong drive off the 17th tee and sending her approach shot onto the green to set up a tap-in par. She closed with a bogey to hold off Vice.
Webb, playing on her home course, was more pleased with the outcome than with her final score.
“It definitely wasn’t one of my best days,” she said. “My putting was a little weak.”
Not at the beginning, however, as Webb rolled in a 30-footer to save bogey on No. 1.
Overall, her expectations are considerably higher than this time a year ago. She has been receiving golf instruction from PGA professional Rich Mahar, who owns Sandy Creek.
“Last year, my score was consistently in the 90s,” Webb said. “Now, I’m consistently in the low 80s. Rich Mahar has helped me a lot with improvement.”
Webb’s work ethic on the course sets her apart, according to Ashland coach Larry Bailey.
“Haley plays golf every day,” Bailey said. “With her dedication and desire, she can do anything she wants. She’s with Rich out here, with me at the driving range and also helps the young girls on the team. We have a couple of seventh- and eighth-graders and Haley takes right to them.”
Ashland received a lift Monday from sophomore Jordan Meade, who came through with an 88 to place fifth overall. Meade missed practically all of last season with an injury.
“So far in high school, this is one of Jordan’s best rounds,” Bailey said. “She’s right behind Haley in seriousness. She’s like her brother.”
Jeffrey Meade enjoyed a standout golf career with the Tomcats and is about to begin his freshman year at Transylvania University. On Monday, he proudly watched his sister compete.
“They are fans of each other,” Bailey said. “They have a great deal of respect for each other.”
Seniors Taylor Clark (100) and Alicia Gunter (103) also contributed to Ashland’s 373 team score. Gunter is in her first season with the team.
Ashland’s runner-up finish left Bailey well pleased with the building program.
“I shouldn’t be surprised because I know the girls are capable,” Bailey said. “I saw something today I had not seen. Instead of one or two that were determined, I saw five or six wanting to play golf.”
Mason County certainly came to play, shooting 354 to win by 19 strokes.
Vice received solid support from her younger teammates. Freshman Christian Arn and eighth-grader Sarah Fite posted 90s. Another eighth-grader, Jordan Frodge, followed with a 91.
“A really good team effort,” Mason County coach John Arn said. “Last year, we finished second in this tournament and ended up winning five times.”
The Lady Royals advanced all the way to the second day of the State Tournament for the third consecutive year.
That team’s lone senior, Christen Cropper, is now on the University of Pikeville team.
“We’ve got a little tradition,” Mason County’s coach said. “The program’s last seven graduates, girls and boys, are playing college golf.”
Greenup County took third place with Ashley Veach’s 84 leading the way. Megan Mulkey’s 97 was next for the Lady Musketeers.
Boyd County seventh-grader McKenzie Walters made an excellent showing with an 87 to finish fourth individually.
Walters, 11, recently earned her second consecutive EKJGA Player of the Year award, this one in the Grade 7-9 division after winning Grade 4-6 honors last year.
ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.
Local Sports
Tee Cat Invitational: Webb keeps her footing
Ashland senior nabs individual honors; team finishes second
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Locals struggle to make impact
Some days you are the windshield and some days you are the bug.
It is a saying that proved to be all too true for Rowan County on Friday night at the KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships at the University of Louisville’s Owsley Frazier Cardinal Park. -
Rough Ending
Fairview senior Kennedy Womack wasn’t her consistent self in Saturday morning’s state tennis semifinals at the University of Kentucky’s Hilary Boone Tennis Complex.
As a result, the top seed fell to Lexington Sayre sophomore Madeline Rolph 6-1, 6-0.
Womack was obviously disappointed with her finish, especially after losing in last year’s state finals, but she was happy for her good friend Rolph. -
FLYING HIGH
If Fairview could have fielded a combined track and field team at Saturday’s Class A State Track and Field Championships, the Eagles and Lady Eagles would have had a record day. Instead, the Fairview girls had to “settle” for fifth, while the boys’ claimed 10th.
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Womack eliminated in semifinals
Top-seeded Kennedy Womack was eliminated in the semifinals of the State Tournament on Saturday at the University of Kentucky tennis courts.
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Big-inning Dawgs
It looked for a while that a questionable call may have determined the outcome of the game, but in the end, it was just an afterthought.
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Boyd County finds senior spark
Losers of four straight, Boyd County was searching for something positive Friday night before beginning postseason play Monday night.
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Doubles teams head to semis at state tourney
With rain staying away, the KHSAA State Tennis Tournament got into full swing on Friday afternoon.
Semifinals and finals will be held today at the University of Kentucky Boone/Downing Tennis Complex for boys and girls singles competitions. -
McKnight hurdling to Georgetown
Fairview’s Paige McKnight is known for jumping hurdles. She cleared a pretty big one on Thursday.
In front of friends and family at Fairview Elementary School, McKnight signed a letter of intent to run track for Georgetown College. -
Several area schools will be represented at State Track and Field championships
Local track and field athletes are ready to try to carry region competition success onto the state stage.
Several area schools will be represented at this weekend’s State Track and Field championships at the University of Louisville. The Class 2A meet is set for today at 3:15 p.m. and Class A competition is scheduled to begin on Saturday at 8:15 a.m. -
EAST KENTUCKY BASKETBALL HISTORY: Reflections on 'The Shot'
Paintsville High School legend J.R. VanHoose is also an eastern Kentucky basketball sports historian. This is one in an ongoing series of stories.
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