The Sacred Heart Academy golf team took a big step toward another state championship Tuesday by taking a 12-shot lead after the first round of the Leachman Buick-GMC-Cadillac/KHSAA State Championships at Bowling Green Country Club.
The Valkyries, who won four straight state titles from 2011-14 before finishing sixth in last year’s state tournament, posted a score of 27-over-par 315 on Tuesday.
Shelby County is in second place after a 327. The KHSAA initially listed the Rockets’ team score as 329 before later making a correction. Jackson County and Green County are tied for third at 337, and Scott County is fifth after a 339.
The second and final round will start at 9 a.m. EDT Wednesday.
Sacred Heart was led by junior Ryan Bender, who shot a 3-over 75 and is tied for ninth place in the individual standings. Other Sacred Heart golfers are junior Erin Rowland (77, tied 12th place), senior Morgan Tinsley (78, tied 14th), sophomore Taylor Edlin (85, tied 42nd) and freshman Jacqueline Steier (87, tied 57th).
Shelby County was led by senior Lilly Young, who is tied for seventh place after a 74.
Murray senior Sarah McDowell and Owensboro senior Ke’Asha Phillips are tied for first after 71s. Four others are tied for third place after shooting 73s – Scott County freshman Rylea Marcum, Manual junior Lucy Suo, Clay County junior Bailey Hubbard and Green County sophomore Gracie Parrott.