By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Cooper freshman Rylan Wotherspoon shot 3-over par 75 in both rounds of the boys state golf tournament at Bowling Green Country Club and finished in a tie for 14th place.
Rylan Wotherspoon
Covington Catholic and Highlands were among the 12 teams that qualified for the final round on Saturday. CovCath placed seventh with a 640 total, followed by Highlands at 644. Taylor County took the team title with a 592 total.
Wotherspoon earned an individual berth in the state tournament by placing fourth in the Region 7 qualifier. After starting the final round on Saturday with a double-bogey, he finished the back nine with a 1-over 37. He had three bogeys and one birdie on the front nine to card a 3-over 75.
John Marshall Butler of Louisville Trinity took medalist honors with a 139 total. He shot 3-under 69 in the final round and won the state tournament by three strokes.
The low scorers for Highlands were sophomores Luke Muller (154) and Justin Gabbard (156). CovCath’s team leaders were senior Patrick Kennedy (157) and junior Ben Sweeten (160).
Highlands senior Ryan Leigh received a $500 scholarship from Leachman Buick/GMC/Cadillac, sponsor of the state golf tournament. The annual scholarship is awarded to a senior participant based on academics, athletic participation and community service. He also received a commemorative bag tag and golf towel from the corporate sponsors.
Complete results from the boys state golf tournament are posted on the khsaa.org website.
TOP TEAM SCORES
1. Taylor County 592, 2. Louisville St. Xavier 594, 3. Lexington Christian 602, 4. Madison Central 613, 5. Louisville Ballard 615, 6. Montgomery County 629, 7. Covington Catholic 640, 8. Highlands 644, 9. Wayne County 647, 10. Marshall County 654, 11. Grant County 657, 12. Daviess County 664.
TOP INDIVIDUAL TWO-DAY TOTALS
139 — John Marshall Butler (Trinity). 142 — C.M. Nixon (South Warren). 144 — Luke Coyle (Taylor County). 145 — Clay Pendergrass (Madison Central) and Jansen Preston (Lexington Christian).
TOP LOCAL GOLFERS
150 — Rylan Wotherspoon (Cooper) 14th. 154 — Luke Muller (Highlands) 28th. 156 — Justin Gabbard (Highlands) 36th. 157 — Patrick Kennedy (CovCath) 39th. 160 — Ben Sweeten (CovCath) 50th. 162 — Cameron Martin (CovCath) 54th. 164 — Lincoln Hammon (CovCath) 61st. 165 — Chris Fitz (CovCath) 63rd. 166 — Ryan Leigh (Highlands) 66th. 168 — Brady Walz (Highlands) 70th.
