Cathryn Brown’s golfing resume continues to grow.
The Lyon County junior can now add 1st Region champion after topping the field Tuesday with a 1-under-par 72 at Murray Country Club.
That was one shot ahead of McCracken County’s Madison Glisson and two shots better than Marshall County teammates Megan Hertter and Trinity Beth. The Lady Marshals’ Savannah Howell shot a 77 to help Marshall claim another team championship.
It is the fifth-straight team title for Marshall’s girls.
While it’s the first championship for Brown, she is certainly familiar with regional titles. Her brother Cullan, who died Aug. 4, 2020, after a battle with osteosarcoma, won three of them for Lyon.
Brown, whose game has improved as much as anyone in western Kentucky over the last year, was steady throughout the day, shooting a 2-under 35 on the front nine before carding a 1-over 37 on the back.
She was 2-under overall through 16 holes before a bogey on 17 left her at 1-under.
If there was any doubt it was her day, Brown’s long drive on the par-4 18th hole hit a tree on the right side, but kicked right back into the middle of the fairway. It was a short pitch shot from there to within 10 feet. Her birdie putt just missed, but Brown tapped in for par to finish off her championship round.
“It’s open over there even if it goes long,” she said about hitting driver on 18. “It’s a good risk/reward.”
Marshall County’s 305 beat McCracken’s 325 in the team competition.
Marshall’s entire team qualifies for state. In addition to Hertter, Beth and Howell, Katie Roberts (80) and Elsie Riley (87) will play at the state tournament at Bowling Green Country Club next week.
The next top seven individuals also qualify for state. That includes Brown, Glisson, Paducah St. Mary’s Ellie Roof (79), McCracken’s Sophie Hollowell (81), Caldwell County’s Claire Knoth (82), Graves County’s Ellie West (82) and McCracken’s Rachel Hagan (84).
