Ryle finishes fourth in state golf tournament

by Zach Greenwell, Enquirer Contributor

BOWLING GREEN - Another year, and another move in the right direction for the Ryle boys’ golf team.

The Raiders shot a 321 team total Saturday in the final round of the Leachman Buick-GMC-Cadillac/KHSAA Boys’ Golf State Championship at Bowling Green Country Club, finishing in fourth place.

Ryle fired a two-day total of 638 and finished behind West Jessamine, St. Xavier and St. Mary. The Raiders were fifth in 2011.

“We never really got into a groove with where we wanted to be, but I think that was the story for a lot of teams,” Ryle coach Jonathan Ehlen said. “We still have improvements to make over the next couple of years, but overall a good finish.”

Ryle sophomore Logan Gamm shot a 78 on Saturday and tied for 17th individually. He was followed by sophomores Austin Squires (80) and Zach Adams (81), and junior Hunter Hughes (82).

“The guys never gave up,” Ehlen said. “There were some minor setbacks, but I’d chalk it up as a successful weekend.”

It was a storybook day for West Jessamine, as the Colts overcame a 12-stroke deficit to win their first team title, and junior Fred Allen Meyer claimed the individual crown with a playoff win over St. Mary’s Joey Mayo.

“For our team to come back like that is pretty unbelievable,” Meyer said. “We’ve known we could do it all year, but this is the first time we’ve played our best game.”

West Jessamine shot an even-par 288 on Saturday for a two-stroke win over St. Xavier, which was denied its 19th championship despite a 12-shot lead coming into the day.

Meyer carded a 2-under 70 to tie Mayo with a 141 total. His birdie putt on the 18th hole forced the playoff and sealed West Jessamine’s team win.

Meyer bogeyed the pair’s second playoff hole, while Mayo settled for a double bogey after hitting his drive wide left.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet I guess, but it’s very exciting,” Meyer said. “We pushed each other.”

Dixie Heights senior Blake Adkins tied for 17th as an individual with a 75 on Saturday. Playing in his first state tournament since his freshman year, Adkins improved on a first-round 79 that faded down the stretch.

“I tightened it up on the back nine today,” Adkins said. “Everything was just a little bit better. It’s been a great experience.”

Newport Central Catholic senior Colin DuPont shot an 81 and tied for 42nd.

Covington Catholic junior Brett Bauereis shot a 77 on the first day, but tied for 57th after an 87 in the final round.


Ryle finishes fourth in state golf tournament