GLASGOW — Dylan Harris, the talented senior golfer at Metcalfe County High School, is getting a little eager about Tuesday’s Region 4 Boys Golf Tournament at Hidden Hills Golf and Country Club in Tompkinsville. It could be, after all, the final golf tournament of his high school career.

But Metcalfe County coach Scott Chapman thinks Harris will be up to the challenge. Though he will be competing against some of the best golfers in south central Kentucky, Harris, Chapman believes, will be able to get the job done.

“I think Dylan has a real good chance to make it to the state tournament. He’s played the course in Tompkinsville several times. It just depends on which teams win the tournament,” Chapman explained. “With so many teams with a chance to win, you have to worry about the scores of the players on the teams that don’t qualify.

“One thing he has going for him is his ability to remain calm and focused. He will probably need to be around even par, 72 or 73, to advance because there are so many good golfers in the region.”

Tee times will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday with the top two teams and the top five individuals not on the winning teams advancing to the state tournament in October in Bowling Green.

The Metcalfe County Hornets include: Harris, Colby White, Logan Sexton, Alex Shearer, Josh Bray, Billy Clemons, Cosby Hammer, Gunnar Word and Logan Jessie.

“There are four or five very good teams in the region. We’re going to have to play very well. When you have to compete with the Bowling Green schools, Glasgow, that is difficult,” said Chapman. “South Warren is very good this year, maybe the favorite going into the tournament. Glasgow is playing well this year. I think Allen County has a chance and, if Barren County plays well, they could win.

“Our problem on this course is, if we get in trouble, how will we handle ourselves? Will we stay calm? Besides Dylan Harris, we have a young team.  We need to remain focused mentally on Tuesday. If we can do that, I think we can be in the (at least) Top 10.”

The Lady Hornets will be taking two players to the Region 4 Girls Golf Tournament on Monday at Dale Hollow State Park in Burkesville. Madison Isenberg and Kennedy Harbison will be representing Metcalfe County.

“I am only entering two girls in the regional tournament, so we won’t have a full team. We have a senior (Isenberg) and a freshman (Harbison) and the freshman is going so she can get some experience,” Chapman said. “I hope my senior can shoot in the mid 80s. That should be a good score for her.”



Monroe hosts boys

Jerome Taylor, the head golf coach at Monroe County High School, is not taking anything for granted. The Region 4 Boys Golf Tournament is scheduled for Tuesday at Hidden Hills Golf and Country Club in Tompkinsville, the Falcons’ home course.

That fact is not lost on some of the coaches in the region, declaring that Monroe County could have a decided advantage. And although Taylor thinks the well wishes from the other coaches are great, the competition level in the region makes Taylor believe the tournament crown is actually up for grabs.

“My boys are very young. We have one senior on the team and he won’t be playing in the regional because of an injury,” Taylor said. “It is our home course and the kids are starting to play pretty well.  However, Allen County, Glasgow and Barren County will come over with some good teams.

“This course is going to play tough. We have an advantage, but with us being young and still learning, it could be a disadvantage. And if you’re not careful, there are some holes on that course that can step up and bite you.”

Tee times are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The top two teams and the top five individuals not on the two winning teams will advance to the state tournament in October in Bowling Green.

The Monroe County boys team includes:  Troy Tooley, Trey Isenberg, William Goodman, Jon Payton Hammer and Kolton Myatt.

The Lady Falcons will compete in the Region 4 Girls Golf Tournament on Monday at Dale Hollow State Park in Burkesville.  A shotgun start will be at 10 a.m.

“I think the girls season has been pretty good. We’ve had some injuries, but we’ve still played pretty well,” Taylor said. “We’re very young. We’re all juniors, with one sophomore, and one freshman. However, we’re making progress and we’re improving every week.”

The Lady Falcons include: Page Anderson, Mary Anderson, Ashley Strong, Kendall McPherson and Kelliemae Polston.

“I have watched a lot of golf at Dale Hollow over the past few years and if you’re hitting fairways and greens, you don’t have to be excessively long off the tee,” Taylor explained. “You can score on this course, but if you get in the hazards and the bunkers, you could post a high number.

“If we can stay out of trouble, we can shoot a good score. I want the girls to play to the fairway markers on Monday and keep the ball in the short grass. If we do that, the scores should take care of themselves.”