She admits she hit two “squirrelly” shots but the other 62 were near perfect Saturday for Lyon County senior Cathryn Brown.
She shot a 7-under par 64 in the Trigg County Invitational at Boots Randolph Golf Course. She shot a 7-under 64 that included her first hole-in-one on the 18th hole.
Brown beat Marshall County sophomore Katie Roberts by three shots. Marshall freshman Trinity Beth, who is 29-under par in nine tournaments this season with seven wins, finished double bogey-bogey to take fourth with a 70.
Brown’s round was so good that she even had her first hole-in-one.
“I have been close several times, so it was nice to get one,” Brown said. “I was really playing well. I was hitting most of my shots right where I was aiming. I just had it going.”
Brown is a unique high school golfer. Her school does not have a team, so she always plays as an individual. She played in a lot of American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) events over the summer she thinks helped improve her overall game on longer, tougher courses.
She has played in three high school invitationals this season and has two more scheduled before regional tourney play. Her goal is to win the state championship, a feat her brother, Cullan Brown, accomplished at Lyon.
“If I play my best, I think I will be on top of the leaderboard,” she said. “Right now I am on top of my game. I am putting it really well. I have a lot of confidence right now in my wedges. That was a weak point at state last year and should be better this year.”
Brown verbally committed in January to play her collegiate golf at Kentucky just like her brother did before his passing from cancer after he played just one season for the Cats.
“Since I made my commitment, the stress has been off because I know what I am doing and where I am going,” she said. “Everybody pretty much knew UK is where I wanted to go. I did have some other good offers on the table but UK is the place I have wanted to go to since I was little.”
Playing for Kentucky like her brother did will be special. She grew up thinking basketball was her best sport but he constantly told her she should prioritize golf.
“If not for him I would still be playing basketball,” Brown said. “He gave me a lot of confidence to play golf. I really still think my best golf is ahead of me. I am a lot bloomer. I have only been playing three years competitively and am playing catch up experience-wise to most girls who have played many more events than me. I really worked on my course management this summer and that’s one reason I know my best is ahead of me.”
Playing at Kentucky will give her the opportunity to be part of a team, something she has never experienced.
“I have never been on a team. I love the fact I do not have to worry about teammates. I only have had to worry about myself,” Brown said. “It’s just me against the golf course and the hole in front of me.”
“I am kind of excited about seeing what being on a team is like at Kentucky. Abigail Sutherland (of Sacred Heart) is a freshman and I am excited to be her teammate and she will be a good leader for me. I think a lot of the players will make sure to show me what it is like to be on a team but it is going to be a new experience for me.”
