20 minutes after finding out he had missed out on advancing in the state golf tournament, Christian County freshman Landon Hunt was on the green practicing his chipping and putting. Hunt’s short game, which helped carry him to the region title last week at the Madisonville Country Club, did not make its way north to Owensboro on Monday.
Hunt missed qualifying for the final round by one shot. He shot a seven over par 79 and finished in 27th place in Monday’s first round.
Starting on the back nine, Hunt got off to a good start as one birdie and five pars saw him at one under. He shot three over par over the final three holes to finish his first nine holes at two over.
Hunt got a shot back with a birdie on the par five first hole and followed that with three straight pars. At one over par with five holes to play, Hunt was in the eighth qualifying position out of 15 to advance.
However, a triple bogey on the fifth hole proved to be his downfall and was tough to overcome as three consecutive bogeys followed. A par on the ninth hole wasn’t enough to allow him to advance.
This is the first year for the new state tournament qualifying guidelines. Two teams and 10 golfers advanced from the region tournament to the new first round of state comprised of the first four regions. From the first round, three teams and 15 golfers advance to next week’s final rounds at the Bowling Green Country Club. Under the old guidelines, Hunt’s region victory would’ve automatically sent him to Bowling Green.
Obviously upset at missing his chance to return to Bowling Green and the final rounds, Hunt immediately began working for next year. And he definitely has the motivation to drive him during the 2023 golf season.
