Last year, Landon Hunt crashed the region golf tournament leaderboard with a third-place finish as an eighth grader.
On Monday, the Christian County High School freshman hosted the party.
Hunt made a 15-foot par putt on his final hole that assured him the region title by one shot over Daviess County’s Grant Broughton, who finished as runner-up for the second straight year.
Hunt, who began his round on the back nine, missed a chance at eagle on the par-5 sixth hole. He tapped in for a birdie to move to 1-under par. He was able to save par on holes seven and eight before setting up his dramatic finish. His tee shot on the par-3 ninth hole landed short. So did his chip which barely landed on the green. However, he drained the 15-foot putt and let out a yell, knowing that shot may have won him the region title.
He was right.
His 1-under-par 70 was the only round in the red at the Madisonville Country Club. An unexpected thunderstorm delayed play for 80 minutes about an hour after the first group began play. Once the storm passed, the day turned sunny and hot.
Hunt is the first Colonel to win a region golf title since Carson Holmes in 2016.
The region tournament marks the first time the new qualifying format for the state tournament was implemented by the KHSAA starting with the 2022 season. In the past, the region winner and the next seven individuals qualified for the state tournament.
In an attempt to strengthen the field, a state first round was added. The region tournament now sends two teams and 10 individuals to the state first round made up of four regions. From there, three teams and 15 individuals advance to the final round in Bowling Green.
Hopkinsville High’s Joey Falco shot a 78 and found himself in a four-way playoff to determine the final three qualifying spots for the state first round. Falco’s bogey on the first hole was good enough to advance to next week’s state first round at the Owensboro Country Club.
Also qualifying for the state first round as individuals were Paul Harris and Ben Dickerson of Madisonville; Shelton Smith of Breckinridge County; Trevor Cecil of Apollo; Josh Thompson of Henderson County; JT Payne of Owensboro Catholic; and Jonah Swift of Butler County.
Ohio County took the team title with a score of 307. Daviess County finished in second place with 316, edging Henderson County by three shots.
Hopkinsville finished in 11th place with a team score of 353. In addition to Falco’s 78, Andrew Riggs shot an 84. Thomas Grise shot a 94 followed by Ryan Martin’s 97 and Isaiah Wood’s 121.
University Heights Academy finished in 13th place as a team with 366 points with all five golfers finishing within 11 shots. Luke Shouse carded an 88, followed by Wade Foster (89), Tanner Stevenson (94), Jaxin Pollock (95), and Ben Stone (99).
Christian County finished in 17th place with 388 points. Aside from Hunt, Drew Fincham shot a 95 followed by Talan Ezell (110), Tay Martinez (113), and Ricky Brewer (115).
Fort Campbell finished in 20th place with 436 points. Kaiden Hodzic shot a 97 to lead the Falcons. Xavior Hoover shot a 100, followed by Colton Ramos (118), Wes Briseno (121), and Brian Kitching (143).
TOP 17 INDIVIDUAL FINISHES
70 Landon Hunt – Christian County
71 Grant Broughton – Daviess County
72 Paul Harris – Madisonville
73 Jacob Blackburn – Ohio County
74 Seth Moore – Ohio County
76 Trevor Cecil – Apollo
76 Shelton Smith – Breckinridge County
76 Matthew Brown – Ohio County
77 Gage Smiley – Dawson Springs
77 Josh Thompson – Henderson County
77 JT Payne – Owensboro Catholic
78 Jonah Swift – Butler County
78 Joey Falco – Hopkinsville
78 Ben Dickerson – Madisonville
78 Gavin Howard – Whitesville Trinity
79 Andrew Gill – Butler County
79 Hayden Crabtree – Owensboro Catholic
TEAM SCORES
Ohio County – 307
Daviess County – 316
Henderson County – 319
Madisonville – 324
Owensboro Catholic – 326
Breckinridge County – 332
Muhlenberg County – 336
Butler County – 339
Owensboro – 347
Hancock County – 349
Hopkinsville – 353
Dawson Springs – 355
University Heights Academy – 366
Apollo – 367
Union County – 370
Webster County – 378
Christian County – 388
McLean County – 403
Whitesville Trinity – 410
Fort Campbell – 436
Hopkins County Central – 454
