After a busy stretch from June through August, the Kentucky golf calendar quieted down a little bit in September. The golf game of Nick Johnston did not quiet down, however, as it remained as strong as it had been earlier in the season with a big victory in the National Car Rental Kentucky Assistant PGA Professional Championship.

Held at South Park Country Club, Johnston picked up another trophy but also his biggest of the year with this victory. It earned him his first Assistant Section Championship title and got him in the field at the National Championship later in the fall in Florida. He prevailed by one stroke over Logan Watts, who would join him in that trip to the Sunshine State.

That same day at South Park, Sara Stephens won the Kentucky Women’s PGA Professional Championship for the second consecutive year. With her victory, it guaranteed the Stephens family both the Men’s and Women’s Section Championship titles following Andrew’s victory at Bowling Green Country Club in August.

Speaking of Andrew, two weeks after his Section Championship title, he won once again at Traditions Golf Club at Golf House Kentucky Classic #3. This victory was not nearly as stressful as his one in Bowling Green documented in the August recap, as a bogey-free round of 67 (-5) was two strokes better than another Andrew, that being Andrew Buse, who finished in second place.

One week later, the KGA Am Series concluded its season at Hunting Creek Country Club with the Am Series Championship. That determined the Series’ Players of the Year, which would be the following players. Congratulations once more to each of them!

• Matt Bowlin (Open, Gross)
• Taylor Brady (Open, Net)
• Paul Jackson (Senior, Gross & Net)
• Greg Engle (Masters Gross)
• Phillip Harper (Masters, Net)
• Jim Caudill (Legends, Gross)
• Chuck Hinners (Legends, Net)

On the topic of Am Series Players of the Year, we also would like to salute our inaugural Western Kentucky Am Series Players of the Year once more. This Series will pick back up in 2022 with these players sure to be in the mix once more.

• Hunter York (Men’s Open, Gross & Net)
• Derek Riley (Men’s Open, Net) (Net title shared with York following a tie)
• Jessica Grace (Women’s Open, Gross & Net)
• Johnny Hutching (Men’s Senior, Gross & Net)
• Cathy Thompson (Women’s Senior, Gross & Net)
• Jerry Throgmorton (Men’s Masters, Gross & Net)
• Deb Blagg (Women’s Masters, Gross & Net)
• Nancy Ragland (Women’s Legends, Gross & Net)

A large number of senior females gathered at The Woodford Club in mid-September for the Women’s Kentucky Senior Amateur which unfortunately got dealt with some bad weather in its final round. Consequently, only first round scores were used to determine the overall champion, and that was Susan Stewart by virtue of a scorecard playoff. It was Stewart’s first victory in the historic competition, and it came after an impressive score of 73.

Many of Kentucky golf’s next great players were at the KGCA All-State Championships at University Club of Kentucky where the already highly-acclaimed Luke Coyle and Trinity Beth added to their resumes. Coyle shot 28 (-8) on the front nine of Big Blue in the final round with six birdies and an eagle in what was the lowest nine-hole gross score seen in any Golf House Kentucky competition throughout the season. He cooled off slightly on his back nine, but no matter. He still won the individual title by four shots.

Meanwhile, Beth, one of the youngest players in the Girls competition, went to a playoff with Isabella Wiley after each player ended the tournament at 144 (+1). Beth was able to clip her in sudden-death to get the latest big victory in a season that was full of them. Her performance helped Marshall County easily win the team competition while Madison Central won the Boys team title.

Some players with desires of winning the All-State down the road had their stage one week later at My Old Kentucky Home Golf Course during the Middle School Championship. St. Patrick’s Carson Long was the star of the show as he posted the lone under-par round that day with a 68 (-3) which was good enough for a four-shot victory in the individual competition. His stellar performance aided his squad in winning the team competition, which they dominated to the tune of a ten-stroke victory.

We end September with the Titleist | FootJoy Team Championship at its traditional host site of Gay Brewer, Jr. Golf Course at Picadome. A playoff was needed here as well after Jesse Massie and D.J. Vogt finished in a tie for first alongside defending champions Bruce Oldendick and Brett Metzger. Massie/Vogt won on the second hole of the playoff, their 38^th of the day, after a marathon day of golf.