College Golf

There was only one bad thing about the way Whitney Miller and her Centre College golf teammates finished the season: they have to wait so long to play again. But Miller said the results of most successful season in school history will spur continued growth in a program that has made a rapid rise in recent years, and she said it will motivate her to do even better as well. Centre finished fourth in the NCAA Division III championships earlier this month, the best postseason finish in school history, after posting the lowest one-day score by any team in the tournament.

Thursday, March 23 College baseball Centre at Emory, 3 p.m. Friday, March 24 Men's college golf Centre in Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational at Jekyll Island, Ga., day 1 Women's college golf Centre in Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational at Jekyll Island, Ga., day 1 Men's college tennis Centre at Rhodes, 4 p.m. Women's college tennis Centre at Rhodes, 4 p.m. ...

The Lexington eGolf Amateur Golf Tour teed off last Saturday at The Bull at Boone's Trace. The tour is open to all amateur golfers and is locally sponsored by Nevada Bob's of Lexington. Each event is an 18-hole stroke play tournament according to handicap. The schedule is as follows: - April 19 at Gibson Bay - May 3 at High Point - May 18 at Old Silo - May 31 at Connemara - June 8 at Cherry Blossom - June 22 at Griffin Gate - July 12 at Kearney Hill - July 20 at Peninsula - Aug. 2 at Golf Club of the Bluegrass - Aug. 16 at Houston Oaks For additional information, call Kasey at (502)

The University of the Cumberlands was not even on Rachel Pingleton's radar. But once the Boyle County senior met the coaches and visited the school, Pingleton decided it was the right place for her to play college golf. “The coaches contacted me and became interested, and I wanted to give them a chance,”¿Pingleton said. “I actually had family members tell (coach Chris Kraftick) about me, and he contacted me and talked to me and I¿really liked talking to him and the way they set up their program.” And once she visited the Williamsburg school, she “fell in love with it.” “They've got so much to offer academically as well as golf,”¿said Pingleton, who said she is planning on major in math to either teach or become an engineer.” Pingleton chose Cumberlands over Morehead State and Campbellsville.

If you're a high school student and want to play college golf, there is most likely a place for you somewhere.This is especially true for girls. The rosters of the top college programs are filled with players who can shoot par or better. But, there are plenty of men playing college golf who shoot in the 80s or higher and women who shoot in the 90s or 100s. In the Hanover College Invitational, for example, the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati had three players shoot 129 or higher.

I first met Barry Daulton in 2001. His daughter Brittany, who played for Pulaski County, and my daughter Meredith were paired together in the Gene Hilen Invitational at Juniper Hill in Frankfort. That was the first of three consecutive high school tournaments that the two girls played together. I suppose it's only fitting that in Meredith's final college golf tournament this past weekend she and Brittany, who now plays for Transylvania, were once again paired together.

Lincoln County High School boys golfer Chris Risner will be continuing his links career. Risner, who joined the LCHS team while still in elementary school, was an avid player throughout his long stint on the Patriot golf team with his sights set on eventually making the leap to the collegiate level. “I’ve been playing golf ever since I was young, in fifth grade,” said Risner. “My Uncle Jim (Atkins) taught me everything I know and Robert Foster. I’ve always liked it. And I’ve always wanted to play college golf and turn pro one day.” The 2011 LCHS graduate, who became one of the Patriots’ leaders as his game progressed, is not quite ready to hit the pro circuit, but he realized his dream of playing college golf when he signed with Berea College.

Golfer Nate Johnson has known nothing but success at West Jessamine. The four-time regional champion capped his career at West last Wednesday by signing a national letter of intent to continue his success at Lipscomb University. Johnson has been coached by Jody Hamilton all four years at West and already has a strong relationship with Lipscomb coach Buddy Harston. “I’ve known the coach for 10 years. I used to get lessons from him when he was the head pro at a golf course in Lexington,” Johnson said.

The University of the Cumberlands was not even on Rachel Pingleton's radar. But once the Boyle County senior met the coaches and visited the school, Pingleton decided it was the right place for her to play college golf. “The coaches contacted me and became interested, and I wanted to give them a chance,”¿Pingleton said. “I actually had family members tell (coach Chris Kraftick) about me, and he contacted me and talked to me and I¿really liked talking to him and the way they set up their program.” And once she visited the Williamsburg school, she “fell in love with it.” “They've got so much to offer academically as well as golf,”¿said Pingleton, who said she is planning on major in math to either teach or become an engineer.” Pingleton chose Cumberlands over Morehead State and Campbellsville.

There was only one bad thing about the way Whitney Miller and her Centre College golf teammates finished the season: they have to wait so long to play again. But Miller said the results of most successful season in school history will spur continued growth in a program that has made a rapid rise in recent years, and she said it will motivate her to do even better as well. Centre finished fourth in the NCAA Division III championships earlier this month, the best postseason finish in school history, after posting the lowest one-day score by any team in the tournament.

Rachel Pingleton of Boyle County will represent Kentucky at the Junior PGA Ryder Cup Academy in Port St. Lucie, Fla., July 1-8 at the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance. Only 84 junior players ages 14-17 were selected to participate, and Jacob Edward Cook of Frankfort is the lone Kentucky boy that will be attending. The Ryder Cup Junior Golf Academy is a seven-day program where players are given professional instruction while expanding their knowledge on the history and format of the Ryder Cup. Participants had to have at least a 2.5 grade-point average and other considerations during the application process, which included an essay, were desire and ability to excel in competitive golf and the player's character.

Lincoln County High School boys golfer Chris Risner will be continuing his links career. Risner, who joined the LCHS team while still in elementary school, was an avid player throughout his long stint on the Patriot golf team with his sights set on eventually making the leap to the collegiate level. “I’ve been playing golf ever since I was young, in fifth grade,” said Risner. “My Uncle Jim (Atkins) taught me everything I know and Robert Foster. I’ve always liked it. And I’ve always wanted to play college golf and turn pro one day.” The 2011 LCHS graduate, who became one of the Patriots’ leaders as his game progressed, is not quite ready to hit the pro circuit, but he realized his dream of playing college golf when he signed with Berea College.

Golfer Nate Johnson has known nothing but success at West Jessamine. The four-time regional champion capped his career at West last Wednesday by signing a national letter of intent to continue his success at Lipscomb University. Johnson has been coached by Jody Hamilton all four years at West and already has a strong relationship with Lipscomb coach Buddy Harston. “I’ve known the coach for 10 years. I used to get lessons from him when he was the head pro at a golf course in Lexington,” Johnson said.

J.T. Ross hadn't planned on playing collegiate golf, but he figures it's worth a try. The Boyle County senior will take his game to Georgetown College after signing with that school this week. And while he said he may or may not play for a full four years, he thinks it will be a good experience for him. "You're going to make friends and you're going to be happy," Ross said. "If I only stay there for two years, so be it. It'll be fun no matter what. " Ross said his original plan was to attend Kentucky, but he changed his mind and decided to go just a little farther north.

The Lexington eGolf Amateur Golf Tour teed off last Saturday at The Bull at Boone's Trace. The tour is open to all amateur golfers and is locally sponsored by Nevada Bob's of Lexington. Each event is an 18-hole stroke play tournament according to handicap. The schedule is as follows: - April 19 at Gibson Bay - May 3 at High Point - May 18 at Old Silo - May 31 at Connemara - June 8 at Cherry Blossom - June 22 at Griffin Gate - July 12 at Kearney Hill - July 20 at Peninsula - Aug. 2 at Golf Club of the Bluegrass - Aug. 16 at Houston Oaks For additional information, call Kasey at (502)

I first met Barry Daulton in 2001. His daughter Brittany, who played for Pulaski County, and my daughter Meredith were paired together in the Gene Hilen Invitational at Juniper Hill in Frankfort. That was the first of three consecutive high school tournaments that the two girls played together. I suppose it's only fitting that in Meredith's final college golf tournament this past weekend she and Brittany, who now plays for Transylvania, were once again paired together.

K atie McKenna and Marissa Cianchetti didn't know each other until they came to visit Centre College on the same weekend. "We met, played golf and hit it off. We decided to room together and now she is my best friend as well as my teammate," said McKenna. The two helped Centre's golf team finish the year ranked 49th in NCAA Division III. They want to improve that mark next year, and that's a big reason they are playing in the Tee Cup Invitational at Danville Country Club. "It's a fun tournament, and it will definitely help me for next year," said McKenna, who is from Mount Sterling.

If you're a high school student and want to play college golf, there is most likely a place for you somewhere.This is especially true for girls. The rosters of the top college programs are filled with players who can shoot par or better. But, there are plenty of men playing college golf who shoot in the 80s or higher and women who shoot in the 90s or 100s. In the Hanover College Invitational, for example, the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati had three players shoot 129 or higher.