(by Don Meador, Sports Information Director, July 27, 2020)
The Allen County-Scottsville High School Patriot golf team will tee off the 2020 golf season on Friday in Tompkinsville. As the new season begins, Patriot coach Scott Stamper is very optimistic about the Patriots’ chances to remain as an elite regional team.
“We will have nine guys returning this year” Stamper said. “We have been a top-five region team for the past 10-15 years and I expect us to be in the top five again this year. I like the amount of experience we have coming back this year. We have three guys that have proven they can consistently score in the low to mid-70's.”
Two of
the three players Stamper refers to are seniors Tyler Ford and Peyton Cline.
“Tyler and Peyton bring as much experience as anyone,” Stamper added. “Both have been a big part of our team for the last couple of years. It is now their turn to lead. They both had a good summer on the Bluegrass Tour and will be filling one of the top three spots on the team.”
Sophomore
Rafe Blankenship is the third returning player to watch this year.
“We expect Rafe to be one of our top three guys this year, if not our top guy,” Stamper noted. “Rafe missed qualifying for the KHSAA State Championship tournament last season by two shots. Rafe has put in the work necessary to make improvements. I have high expectations for him.”
The remaining two spots among the team’s top five will be filled by rising players---golfers who have cut their teeth on the course in recent years.
“Our top five golfers will be rounded out with some new guys with experience,” Stamper said. “Joshua Sikes (junior)and Eli Stamper (8th grade) have been working to contribute the last couple of years at the varsity level, now is their time to step up. Both have made improvements over the summer and will continue to improve. The team will need a solid four and five man score and right now these two have the opportunity to be those guys.”
Sophomore
Dillon Ausbrooks, seventh-grader Barton Rutledge, eighth-grader Peyton West,
and seventh-grader and Owen Talbott are expected to push for time in the
varsity rotation as well, according to coach Stamper.
Stamper feels like the Patriots will push to finish the year among the region’s best---a challenge this year given the talent on the course in the area.
“I think Bowling Green and Greenwood will be tough to handle,” Stamper admitted. “There are several players in the region that are considered top 10 or contenders for the regional title or a trip to the state championships. Dalton Fiveash and Chase Wilson from Franklin-Simpson; Trevor Isenberg from Monroe County, Jacob Lang from Greenwood all competed in the state tournament last year and are back this year, along with a strong group from Bowling Green and South Warren. We are in the conversation as well as Rafe, Tyler, and Peyton, but our work is cut out for us.”
Unlike other sports and activities, golf is scheduled to be played this
year closer to normal than anything else. Still, Stamper points out that COVID-19
has impacted the sport and will necessitate a few changes.
“COVID has been and continues to be the topic of conversation and seemingly what rules our world right now,” Stamper noted. “Golf is set up to be socially distant through normal play and spectating. We are following all protocols and recommendations and still getting a chance to compete. We are extremely thankful for that. Our tournaments will probably have our team playing in the same group, instead of being placed with kids from other schools during competition. There will probably not be any award presentations or scoreboards to watch at the end of tournaments in order to reduce the number of people gathering. So, tournament results will be emailed out to coaches when all scores are tabulated. If we win, we won't know it until later/ It will be different and strange but we are getting to compete.”
AC-S
is slated to start the year at the day-long Hidden Hills Invitational in
Tompkinsville Friday, July 31. On Monday, August 3, AC-S will play in the Gator
Invitational at the Bowling Green Country Club and follow on August 4 with the
18-hole Crosswinds Invitational in Bowling Green.