The Eagle Hint Invitational had a number of groups from throughout the state competing in one of many first golf tournaments of the 12 months, together with two native groups, the Mason County Royals, and the Fleming County Panthers.
Mason County gained the match final 12 months, with Jake Feldhaus, Grant Owens, Trey Cracraft, Noah Gardner and Quin Grooms taking pictures for a mixed 304. Owens and Cracraft graduated on the finish of the 2022-23 faculty 12 months, and had been important parts within the Mason County golf group. Feldhaus, Gardner and Grooms returned to the Eagle Hint invitational this 12 months, accompanied by senior Ryan Skaggs and sophomore Cole Owens.
The group averaged a 308 in qualifying and are the highest 5 golfers for Mason County.
After successful the twelfth area championship for the third time in a row final 12 months taking pictures a mixed 297, Mason County was prepped and able to go heading into the invitational, regardless of dropping two of their greatest from final season.
“We misplaced two large seniors final 12 months, they had been important to our program final 12 months and we’re younger. We now have three sophomores in our prime 5, two which have by no means performed inside this aggressive type of golf earlier than. So, I’m enthusiastic about how we carried out on this match and trying to see what we are able to construct this 12 months and in years shifting ahead.” mentioned Royals head coach, Bryson Bennett.
The Royals shot a mixed 306 on this match, two higher than their qualifying, however two photographs over their efficiency final 12 months. With Feldhaus taking pictures a 68, Grooms a 78, Gardner a 79, and Owens and Skaggs each placing up 81s, Mason County was removed from underneath performing.
Though they had been unable to get back-to-back wins on the match, simply narrowly getting beat by Jap Excessive College, who’s group shot a 304, Mason County was nonetheless six strokes forward of the third place group, Highlands Excessive College, who put up a 312.
Mason County’s coach mentioned that he was pleased with how the group carried out within the match, stating that they are going to start to decrease their scores because the season progresses.
“Effectively, by qualifying we shot a 308 so, primarily based on what we’ve accomplished previously we’re on that monitor. It’s simply taking part in extra. That is the primary match of the 12 months, the primary one we’ve performed in. Match golf you may’t simulate it one bit, so the extra tournaments we get underneath our belt then these scores are gonna begin decreasing and decreasing.” mentioned coach Bennett.
Individually, the Royals prime golfer, Jake Feldhaus carried out exceptionally.
After tying with Harrison County’s David Krona with a stroke rely of 68, the pair competed in a playoff gap to find out the second place golfer. First place was awarded to Pikeville’s Cameron Roberts, who put up a 66.
“I feel I left some on the market, however I made just a few good places.” mentioned Feldhaus, “Within the common match I hit iron, and I figured I wanted to hit driver to get a better shot in and it didn’t actually repay however I nonetheless made par.” mentioned Feldhaus.
On the finish of the recent, grueling seven hour day on the course, the Royals went residence with two second place trophies, and a primary place spot within the 2A qualifiers, beating out match hosts, the Rowan County Vikings, and the Fleming County Panthers.
The Vikings carried out effectively, as they all the time do, coming in fourth total within the match, and second place within the 2A qualifiers, taking pictures a 316. Fleming County completed twelfth total, out of 23 groups competing, taking pictures a mixed 339.