(by Don Meador)
On a lazy hot day in the summer of 2020, two seventh grade golfers took to the golf course to start a journey. Ella Anderson and Allison Ford joined upperclassmen Emma Cline and Aly Miller to help AC-S again field an official golf team. This was a fresh start for Lady Patriot golf---returning to the minimum number of players required for a team to compete in team competition in tournaments---after a season with just three players on the roster.
The youngsters had started to tone their skills at the Junior Golf level. Still, their skills lacked development, a fact that led to many long days that first year. Their 18-hole scorers were high, most often above the 100 mark and well off the pace of the top players. Rather than give up, the pair pressed forward---one shot at a time.
A year later, classmate Kennedy Carter would join Anderson and Ford. Carter began to sharpen her game and together the three became the foundation of Lady Patriot golf. By their sophomore season---the fall of 2023---classmates Kaytee Shelton and Macey Melton joined the trio.
The passing of time combined with shot improvements and playing experience helped AC-S reach a program milestone---winning the 2A Section 2 golf tournament in 2023. At the state 2A championship tournament in Owensboro, the Lady Patriots placed fourth. Leading the way was Carter who carded an 89 (+17) to place 18th individually. Anderson was 21st overall after a round of 95 (+23). Ford shot a 101, Shelton posted a score of 113 and Melton notched a 121.
Last year, the team repeated as 2A Sectional champions. Anderson and Carter tied for first with Anderson credited with regional title honors based on a scorecard playoff. At the state championship, the junior-laden squad finished as the 2A Championships’ state tournament runner-up. Playing at the Owensboro Country Club against golfers from across the Commonwealth, AC-S posted a team score of 371---ten strokes behind the 361 score by Murray. Last year’s 371 was a 27-shot improvement from 2023.
Not only was it a great day for the team, individual members posted solid numbers as well. Carter led the way with an 88 to place 15th overall in the 55-player field. Ford placed 16th in the field. Anderson struggled but still finished in a tie for 17th after a round of 92. Shelton carded a 100 and Melton a 110 for the day.
The Lady Patriots--without Melton who opted not to play this year---will return to Owensboro on Monday, September 8, for a third time in quest of the 2A Championships state golf crown. The 2025 team also includes Lillie Wallace who decided to come out for the team as a senior. AC-S enters the 18-hole event with high hopes of becoming only the second team in school history to win a team state championship of any kind.
The core of the Lady Patriot team recognizes how far they have come since their first tee shots.
“I have learned a lot including how to be more consistent on hitting the ball and around the greens as well,” Anderson explained. “I have worked a lot on my shot game because for me I don’t hit the ball long. I’ve been working on getting the ball up and down.”
"I have gotten better and my attitude has gotten better,” Ford added. “I don’t get as mad as I used to. I just go with the flow. That has helped my ability.”
“My game was rough at the beginning like everyone else,” Carter said. “With more practice, I have gotten more consistent. I can hit the ball further and more in the middle (of the fairways).”
One of the factors that has shaped the Lady Patriots into a state 2A contender is the closeness of the team. It’s more like a sisterhood among the players, a fact that was hard on Shelton a few years ago.
“When I moved to Greenwood, I had to leave these girls,” noted Shelton. “That was the hardest thing for me when I moved. When I moved back, I was very excited to be able to play with them again.”
Two newcomers are also feeling the close-knit bond between the players this season---Wallace and freshman Alayna Hart.
“It’s been great being around this team,” Wallace said. “I’ve learned patience from these girls.”
“It’s definitely different being around the older girls but it’s very nice and golf is fun,” added Hart.
On September 8, AC-S tees off at noon seeking a crown against the best golfers from 2A schools around the Commonwealth. Without a doubt, the Lady Patriots go into the competition confident and optimistic.
"It feels great to go back,” Anderson stated. “We have put in the work and the work is paying off. We need to remember how we lost by 10 strokes last year. We can make that up. We need to be hungry to do that this year.”
“I think we will do better this year,” added Shelton with Ford echoing her teammate, "I'm excited since we have all gotten better since last year. I think we can pull it off this year.”
Second-year coach Chris Roy---a championship-winning golf coach while in Georgia---likes his team’s chances.
“We have the players to do it,” stressed coach Chris Roy. “It’s going to be a matter of consistency. On the golf course that can be the toughest thing at times. It’s not just a physical thing, it’s a mental thing. I’ve seen a lot of growth out of these girls and I feel very comfortable with their progress from last year to this year. We have played nine tournaments so they are battle tested after playing against some of the best players in the state. They are not going to be afraid or back down. I’m excited for them and have full confidence that they can go out and do the job.
The 2A Championships will not be the end of the team’s season. Afterwards, AC-S will complete the regular season portion of their schedule before the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Region 3 golf tournament the week of September 22. Last year, Carter qualified as an individual for the state tournament while Anderson just missed moving on.