GOLF: Locals in contention at Junior State Am (07/10)

By GREG CREWS gcrews@thenewsenterprise.com Karisa Akin and Lydia Gumm have their work cut out for them. Akin, a recent Central Hardin High School graduate, and Gumm, a James T. Alton eighth-grader, are tied for fourth place in the Girls’ Kentucky Junior State Amateur Championship after firing two-over 74s on Wednesday at Bardstown Country Club’s Maywood Golf Course. Standing between them and the title, however, are some of the state’s most accomplished high school golfers. Two-time defending state champion Nikki Koller leads the field of 43 following a round of three-under 69, while 2005 state champion Candice Wiley is tied for second with April Emerson, who won a team state championship with Russell County in 2004, after the two turned in one-over 73s. “The only two who are missing are Emma and Ashlee,” Akin said, referring to Emma Talley, a three-time top-five finisher at State, and Ashlee Rose, who led West Jessamine to last year’s team title. “I don’t know what kind of number it will take (today) to win it, but me and Lydia are five back and we are going to have to go low tomorrow to come back.” Akin, who had taken a week off prior to the tournament after having her wisdom teeth removed, began her round a little rusty, playing three-over-par on her first seven holes. After that, however, she seemed to find a groove as she racked up 10 pars and one birdie over the final 11 holes. “I didn’t play great, but I didn’t play horrible,” she said. “My putting wasn’t really there for me like it has been, but I think I will play better tomorrow.” Gumm, who is also tied for the lead in the 14-15-year-old division, had a similar round to Akin. After picking up a bogey and a double-bogey on the front nine to make the turn at three-over-par, Gumm locked down and picked up eight straight pars before capping her round with a birdie on the 18th. “I didn’t play well on the front nine. I missed a lot of greens,” Gumm said. “The course was actually playing pretty long because it was so wet. … I was leaving everything short. Tomorrow I’ll have to use more club.” Recent Central Hardin graduate Morgan Cross is in seventh place overall and in fifth place in the 24-player 16-18-year-old division after shooting a three-over 75. Elizabethtown High School junior Kayla Kincer is 10th overall after turning in a seven-over 79, while Central Hardin junior Caitlyn Wilkerson is tied for 19th (sixth in 14-15 division) following an 11-over 83. Elizabethtown senior Paige Raine is tied for 22nd after firing an 85. In the 12-player 13-and-under division, Lauren Hartlage and Madalaine Benedetti of Elizabethtown are in eighth and 12th, respectively, after recording a 46 and a 71 over nine holes. BOYS Ben Napier’s goal for his final try at the Junior State Amateur was to come out and have fun. And following Wednesday’s round at Lindsey Golf Course on Fort Knox, Napier is all smiles. The recent John Hardin High School graduate fired a one-over 73 in rain-soaked conditions to enter today’s final round tied for sixth overall in the field of 135, while holding sole possession of fifth in the 74-player 17-18 division. “I hit my driver awful all day, but I got up-and-down a lot. That’s what saved me today,” said Napier, who needed only 25 putts for the entire round. “Today gave me a lot of confidence because what I lacked confidence in was my short game. My chipping and my putting. “My grandpa has been working with me a lot on my short game and he said my putting stroke is good, the ball just isn’t falling. He said I just needed to get that confidence and I finally got that today,” he added. “I actually can’t wait to get back out there and see what I can do.” Napier will likely need that confidence to make a charge today. He is seven strokes off the leader, Seth Blann of Bowling Green, who notched a six-under 66. James Dawson of Bardstown is second following a one-under 71. Recent Elizabethtown graduate Grant Hinton fired a three-over 75 and is tied for 16th, while LaRue County senior Bryan Bault tied for 40th following a six-over 78. John Hardin seniors Stephen Montgomery, Jordan Ridge and Sydney Montgomery turned in rounds of 80, 88 and 95, respectively, to take 59th, 118th and 126th. Central Hardin sophomore Patrick Schirmer shot an 87 for 115th, while sophomore teammate Dylan Shoffner recorded a 101 for 133rd. Adam Rickett of Elizabethtown turned in a 95 for 128th, North Hardin sophomore Blake Meyers fired a 92 for 123rd and Patrick Campbell of Elizabethtown shot a 98 for 131st. 14-UNDER. Daniel Harper of Murray shot an even-par 72 at Pine Valley Golf Course in Elizabethtown to lead the 31-player 13-14 division. Ryan Daniels of Radcliff shot a 23-over 95 for 26th, while Michael Vick of Elizabethtown shot a 102 for 30th. Steven Klein of Lexington leads the 15-player 11-12 division following an even-par 36 over nine holes. Kyle Jury of Elizabethtown is tied for 12th with a 47, while Elizabethtown’s Josh Chancey and Alex Humes are in 14th and 15th, respectively, following rounds of 53 and 64. Greg Crews can be reached at 505-1754