Curd birdies to win playoff

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Collier Curd birdied the first playoff hole to win the Boys overall and 16-19 division at the UK Club’s Big Blue Course.

Curd fired rounds of 73-69—142 to force the playoff with Cayden Pope, who came out of the 14-15 division with rounds of 72-70—142.

Curd trailed by one shot heading to the final round then separated himself from everyone in the 16-19 division with birdies at Nos. 3, 5 and 11 and was bogey-free until the par-4 14th. His birdie at 17 solidified his spot in the playoff with Pope, who stumbled at the finish in regulation with a double bogey and bogey at the final two holes.

Curd won the Boys 16-19 division by a 4-stroke margin with Brooks Korfhage taking second place with rounds of 72-74—146. Alex Gentry shot 72-75—147 to claim sole possession of third place while Harley Kruschwitz (75-73—148) and Jack Neville (73-75—148) rounded out the top-5.

Pope holds on for win in Boys 14-15

Cayden Pope survived a double bogey-bogey finish to earn a 1-shot victory over Justin Sui in the Boys 14-15 division at the UK Club.

Pope trailed Sui by three shots heading into the final round then played near-flawless golf for the first 16 holes Sunday. Starting on the back nine, Pope notched birdies at 13, 18, 3, 5 and 6 with no bogeys on the card at that point.

With two holes to play, Pope had turned a 3-shot deficit into a 4-shot lead.

Sui finished with rounds of 69-74—143 for second place while Justin Gabbard placed third at 72-76—148.

Whatley crushes field in Girls 15-19

Nicole Whatley fired rounds of 69-72—141 in winning the Girls 15-19 division at Kearney Hill Golf Links by 10 shots.

The 3-under-par total was Whatley’s personal tournament-best.

Whatley was able to build a 6-shot lead in the first round thanks to three birdies and an eagle-3 at the par-5 14th. In Sunday’s final round, she started with pars on each of the first 11 holes to keep the field at bay.

She made up for her only bogey of the day at the par-3 12th with a birdie at the last.

Kendall Maynard shot 76-75—151 to finish alone in second place while Peyton Schaffer took third at 79-73—152.

Marrs rallies for win in Girls 14-and-Under

Mary Keene Marrs overcame a 5-shot deficit to win the Girls 14-and-under division at Kearney Hill by four strokes.

Marrs finished with rounds of 83-74—157 which included three birdies in the final round. She birdied the fourth and fifth holes to pull within one shot of leader Macy Beeson the went up by one for good with her par at 14. Beeson made back-to-back double bogeys starting at 14 then Marrs put things out of reach with a birdie at the 17th.

Beeson finished alone in second with rounds of 78-83—161 and Anna Coccia shot 81-82—163 for third place honors.

Howard rides hot finish to win Boys 13-and-Under

Landen Howard birdied the final two holes to overturn what was at one point a 4-shot deficit in winning the Boys 13-and-under division at Kearney Hill by three shots.

Howard, who finished at 76-72—148, started the final round two shots behind Alexander Bennett then fell to four back following and early bogey Sunday. Birdies at 9 and 10 pulled Howard even with Bennett for the first time, but he would give two shots back with bogeys on the next two holes.

Howard capitalized on Bennett’s double bogey at 13 and bogey at the 15th go up by one, then sealed the deal with birdies at 17 and 18.

Howard finished at 74-77—151 to finish second while Maverick Conaway (78-79—157), Vaughn Harber (75-82—157) and Charlie Spiller (76-81—157) shared third place.