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Around the links in Northern Kentucky: Golf House Kentucky, Junior Golf Hub partner to help college hopefuls


By Marc Hardin
NKyTribune contributor

Northern Kentucky’s aspiring college golfers have a new tool to use as they navigate the tricky terrain of college recruitment. The Kentucky PGA Junior Tour is making it available after Golf House Kentucky and Junior Golf Hub joined forces last month in a new partnership aimed at helping college golf hopefuls on tour realize their goal of playing at the next level.

“As a former collegiate golfer, I can attest to the fact that navigating the college golf landscape is a difficult and often confusing task,” said Brent Paladino, executive director of Golf House Kentucky. “Junior Golf Hub is an innovative tool that will greatly assist our members in the college golf recruitment process. We will be able to provide valuable resources to players and their families as they look to continue their golfing careers on the collegiate stage.”

Golf House Kentucky is the umbrella organization for Kentucky’s Family of Golf Organizations, the management group supporting the Kentucky Golf Foundation, which supports youth golf initiatives including the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour. Junior Golf Hub is an online community that links players with colleges.

As a result of the partnership, Junior Golf Hub is the new sponsor for the Kentucky PGA Junior Player of the Year Races, which recognize the top boys and girls junior players in all age divisions. Members of the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour will receive a free 30-day trial to Junior Golf Hub with exclusive pricing through a premium membership.

Junior Golf Hub was founded to help players and parents make the journey to college golf while helping college coaches find the best talent. The partnership gives Kentucky PGA Junior Tour members access to valuable resources and information for players and parents.

Among the features is a way to build a digital college golf resume, the ability to find and follow college golf programs plus extensive education on the recruiting process. There’s also the Tournament Suite where players can find ranked events and other top junior tournaments. Events can be added to a custom playing calendar with tournament results from top junior tours automatically loaded to the player profile.

All current members of the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour can receive their free 30-day trial on Junior Golf Hub and 25 percent off Junior Golf Hub Premium by using a special promo code at sign-up and checkout. For more information, visit Golf House Kentucky at kygolf.org.

Around the links in Northern Kentucky:

A.J. JOLLY: The team of Gary Koch and Ken Armstrong lead the Campbell County Senior Golf League standings with a record of 29.5-6. There is a three-way tie for second at 23.5-12.5. Tied teams include the duos of Bill Byrne and Bob Slider, Dick Edgar and Tom Williams, and Dan Fehler and Bob Mason.

KENTON COUNTY: The Kenton County Junior League team, a 10-person squad of boys and girls, won its 13-under division and advanced to the Aug. 25 sectional qualifier in Louisville. Qualifying teams advance to the regional event in Mississippi. The national final is in Arizona in November. The team is coached by Kenton County assistant pro Chris Morris. The official roster is set on Sunday.

TWIN BRIDGES: Jimmie Brandenburg won the men’s club championship with a two-day score of 156. Jenna Dawn won the ladies’ crown with an 18-hole score of 72. Other champions include Tom Roberts (senior men’s), Randy Crouch (super senior) and Sharon Holtz (senior ladies).

KENTUCKY CUP: Covington Catholic High School’s Ben Sweeten tied for 18th and was the top-finishing local at the annual Kentucky Cup. Sweeten shot 2-over-par 73 at the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour stop hosted by Lexington Christian Academy. The tournament was played on University Club of Kentucky’s Wildcat and Big Blue courses. Sweeten, a junior, had 34 at the turn. He finished in an eight-way tie for 18th, eight shots off the lead. CovCath finished 13th among 24 teams. Ryle placed 23rd.

KENTUCKY PGA JUNIOR TOUR: Tatjana Andracenko from Independence won the girls’ 12-under competition at Event 5 of the Fall 9-Hole Series at Crescent Hill Golf Course in Louisville. Andracenko, in the graduating class of 2027, shot 4-over-par 40, one shot better than runner-up Laken Tetley from New Albany, Indiana. Andracenko is three years younger than Tetley, in the class of 2024.

Lucca Brown from Union finished runner-up in the boys’ 10-under division at Event 2 of the Fall 9-Hole Series at Battlefield Golf Club in Richmond. Brown shot 8-over 44, six strokes behind winner Wyatt Merkins of Georgetown. Clara Bushman from Fort Thomas tied for second in girls’ 18-under with 56, six strokes behind the winner.

Brown tied for fifth in his division at the 74th Junior Fall Cities Tournament, a nine-hole event combining boys and girls at Quail Chase Golf Club South/West in Louisville. He carded 4-over 40, six shots off the lead in the 11-under competition.

NKWGA: Northern Kentucky Women’s Golf Association Team Play standings: 1. Kenton County 427, 2. Northern Kentucky Golf Club 417, 3. Fort Mitchell 394.5, 4. Twin Oaks 385, 5. Twin Bridges 383, 6. Summit Hills 370.5, 7. Boone Links 355, 8. Devou 348, 9. Eagle Creek 343.5, 10. A. J. Jolly 339.

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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