The new postseason golf format adopted by the KHSAA two years ago created a first round that allows more players and teams to advance out of the region and on to the state championship.
State first round is known as a grind for players, who just need to finish in the top 15 so long as they are not on the three teams with the lowest scores.
Caldwell County’s Collin Whittington did just that on Wednesday, grinding out a round of 75 to finish in ninth place. He will compete in the two-round state championship next week at the Bowling Green Country Club.
Whittington is the first Caldwell County boys’ golfer since Chris Doub in 2003 to advance to the state championship round.
His card consisted of 10 pars, six bogeys, and a pair of birdies, both coming in the front nine where he finished with an even-par 35.
Whittington was able to stay mostly straight off the tee box at the Hopkinsville Golf and Country Club and nestled several approaches close to the hole for easy putts.
McCracken County’s Landon Hunt and Greenwood’s Layton Richey tied for the lead with even par 71s while McCracken County, Owensboro, and Taylor County will advance to the championship round next week.
Whittington joined Mayfield’s Ryan Crouch, Paducah Tilghman’s Peyton Toon and Evan Hack, and Marshall County’s Ryan Stokes as Region 1 players to advance to Bowling Green.
