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Around the links in Northern Kentucky: Lambdin new director, head golf pro at A.J. Jolly Course


By Marc Hardin
NKyTribune contributor

For the first time in nearly four decades, A.J. Jolly Golf Course has a new director of golf and head golf professional. It’s a full-circle moment for Brian Lambdin, the new man in charge.

“Terry Jolly was director of golf and head golf professional for 36 years. He retired Thursday,” Lambdin said. “I started as a cart kid at A.J. Jolly in 1982. It’s good to be back home.”

Lambdin, 49, is back at A.J. Jolly after a 17-year stint at Flagg Springs. He was at Pendleton Country Club for seven years.

“It’s fantastic to be here. I lived next to the course,” Lambdin said. “I literally grew up on this course.”

Jolly and his family have been mainstays at the Alexandria venue. A.J. Jolly has been rated one of the best places to play by Golf Digest. In 2016, the course received a top-10 state ranking from Golf Advisor.

The 18-hole, par-71 course at the A.J. Jolly Park facility covers 6,235 yards with a course rating of 70.0 and a 128 slope rating on bent grass. Designed by William H. Diddel, the course opened in 1962. There’s a pro shop and concession stand. An amateur-friendly destination, A.J. Jolly hosts 12 leagues and Friday night 2-for-1 couples golf.

Around the links in Northern Kentucky:

KENTUCKY PGA JUNIOR TOUR: Parker McKelvey of Union finished tied for fourth in the boys’ ages 11-12 contest at last week’s Summer Series Event 4. He shot a nine-hole score of six-over 41 at par-71 Indian Hills Country Club in Bowling Green. Paxton McKelvey of Union was third in the boys’ 10-under event with a score of 46.

Elizabeth Dunaway from Union placed fifth at last week’s Summer Series Event 2 girls’ 16-18 contest at Eagle Trace Golf Course in Morehead.

Lauren Abner from Villa Hills tied for seventh overall at the Summer Preview at Louisville’s Seneca Golf Course. Union’s Hannah Dargie won the girls’ 13-18 competition.

METROPOLITAN TOURNAMENT: Former Notre Dame Academy golfer Amy Pugliano was the top Northern Kentucky finisher at Tuesday’s stroke-play qualifier for the 103rd Metropolitan Women’s Amateur Championship at Summit Hills Country Club. Pugliano, a rising junior at Northern Kentucky University, earned the 10th seed in the 16-player championship flight with a score of 82, which tied for ninth. A Villa Hills resident and Summit Hills member, she was scheduled to play seventh seed Janisa Bondoc in Wednesday’s first round of match play. The final is Friday.

NKWGA: Kenton County led the Northern Kentucky Women’s Golf Association Team Play standings on June 1 with 136.5 points. Northern Kentucky Golf Club was second among the 10 competing teams with 127 points followed by Twin Bridges (121), Twin Oaks (116.5) and Boone Links (104).

A.J. JOLLY: Larry Hartig won the men’s club championship with a two-round score of 14-over 156, good for a four-shot margin over runners-up George Parton (160) and Rick Gerrein (160). Hartig shot 78 both rounds. Ron Payne (153) won the senior championship and Wiley Piazza (159) finished second.

The team of Gary Kock and Ken Armstrong led the Campbell County Senior League standings with 11.5 points. They held a 1.5-point margin over second-place Gale Whitaker and Leon Whitaker (10) and were 2.5 ahead of third-place Dave Miller and Jack Snodgrass (9).

KENTON COUNTY: Entry deadline for the June 18 Red Solo Cup Kenton County Invitational on the Pioneer Course is June 10. Two-lady teams will compete in nine-hole best-ball and nine-hole scramble formats. Field limit is 72 players. Each player must have a current handicap. The maximum handicap allowed is 40.4. Verified handicaps determine the flights. For more information or to enter visit nkwga.com.

Marc Hardin’s summer golf column has been featured in The Kentucky Post and Kentucky Enquirer for 15 years. He’s covered all the local amateur tournaments and several PGA and LPGA events since 2003. His feature for The Cincinnati Post about how Chi Chi Rodriguez got on the album cover of a Devo record was PGA Story Of The Day from the 2004 Kroger Classic at The Golf Center at Kings Island. Marc has written for the Greater Cincinnati Golf Association and Greater Cincinnati Women’s Golf Association. He welcomes comments, story tips, feature ideas and your league’s standings. You can contact him at marcwriterdude@yahoo.com.


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