Many of the state’s biggest tournaments fell in July with first-time winners being a prevalent theme in each of them. Some had waited a while for their moment to come with their respective trophy, while others’ victories seemed like a harbinger of things to come for a young, blossoming star. For Patrick Newcomb in the 104^th Kentucky Open presented by Persimmon Ridge, it was the former.

During the last decade, the Benton native had been trying to win the most prestigious competition in the state and had several close calls in doing so. Among them were top-six finishes in each of the last three editions of the championship. This time, he was leading during the second round while he was making the turn before a closing 38 (+2) briefly derailed him in his quest. He admitted after the tournament that he thought that stretch had ended his hopes for winning, as Kyle Wilshire went the opposite direction to put five shots in between him and Newcomb after two rounds.

The final round started with Wilshire and Jansen Preston in first and second place, respectively, but the door swung back open to Newcomb and Matthew Troutman when neither Wilshire nor Preston were able to make a single birdie in the final round. Newcomb steadily plotted his way across Persimmon Ridge during their struggles in a bogey-free performance that featured four birdies. His round of 68 (-4) was the second-best in the final round which provided him a three-shot victory over Troutman. Newcomb became the fourteenth player all-time to have won both the Men’s State Open and Men’s State Amateur in the process. Now, as he continues his quest to get full-time status on the PGA TOUR, Newcomb’s triumph does put him on pace to be inducted into the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame one day, regardless of what his future holds.

All that was needed for history to be made in the Kentucky Women’s Open was one shot to be struck, for that meant Bellefonte Country Club became the first golf course in the state to have hosted all major individual competitions in Kentucky. Fittingly, it happened right after the Ashland facility turned 100 years old. Even better, the tournament had an enhanced spotlight as it became the first GHK-sanctioned tournament to be broadcast courtesy of MyTown TV. The enhanced exposure for the ladies competing made it seamless for their friends and family to watch them compete, regardless of their location.

With Ke’Asha Phillips’ family being a four-hour drive away in Owensboro, it was especially convenient for them as they witnessed their star talent win with relative ease for the biggest victory of her young career. Phillips opened the tournament with the only under-par score on the notoriously tricky layout and withstood a late charge from Mary Keene Marrs in the final round to obtain a three-stroke victory. It was also her final victory as an amateur as Phillips has since turned pro in the pursuit of reaching the LPGA Tour.

Speaking of professional golf tours, the PGA TOUR visited Kentucky once again for the Barbasol Championship. As has unfortunately been a prevalent theme for the tournament since it moved to Keene Trace Golf Club, weather was the story for much of the competition. Frequent rain delays during the first three rounds, including one that prevented Saturday’s play from beginning until 5:00 p.m., marred the tournament. Luckily, the clouds parted for a sunny Sunday finish that saw most players play 30 or more holes to get the tournament done on schedule. A captivating close to the tournament was punctuated by perhaps the loudest roar in the tournament’s Kentucky history, when Trey Mullinax drained a putt from fifteen feet on the 72^nd hole to beat Kevin Streelman by a stroke. The moment was all the more important since the event was no longer sharing a spot on the schedule with The Open Championship, and it got Mullinax a spot at St. Andrews the following week. He performed well in Scotland, earning a T21 finish that never would have happened had it not been for his triumph in Nicholasville.

While Mullinax had a career year on the PGA TOUR, Brady Smith is one player who is determined to get there at some point. History shows that champions of the Kentucky Boys Junior Amateur have a strong possibility of getting there, and Smith joined the esteemed list of past winners with a victory lap on his home course. With the top young males coming to University of Louisville Golf Club, Smith showed them all how to properly navigate the Spencer Holt design en route to a five-shot win. It wasn’t the last time Smith would win one of the biggest events in Kentucky Junior Golf for the year, but we’ll get to that in a later spotlight.

Robbie Bender has seen his success as a junior translate to success in amateur and collegiate competitions, and that seemed to be evident in the state’s U.S. Amateur qualifier at Nevel Meade Golf Club. The Louisville native who now attends the University of Indiana lit up an all-star field containing the best amateur golfers in Kentucky and the surrounding states. With two spots up for grabs, Bender quickly ensured he would get one of them with a round of 65 (-7) to begin the day’s proceedings. A round of 68 (-4) with two eagles on his scorecard followed, and Bender locked up a trip to New Jersey the next month with medalist honors obtained with three strokes of cushion.  Bender’s in-state collegiate rival, Peyton Snoeberger from Purdue, clinched the second qualifying spot.

As those players booked tickets for a USGA National Championship, one of those prestigious competitions visited Kentucky for the first time in fifteen years. The Club at Olde Stone opened its doors to the top young females in the world for the U.S. Girls Junior in what turned out to be a phenomenal showcase for the facility and the state. Kevin Childers, PGA Director of Golf at Olde Stone said after the tournament that “everyone complimented how nice everyone in Kentucky is.” Not even the excessive heat and humidity Bowling Green felt that week could damper the mood from the Kentucky residents on-site, especially the three players who represented the state on home soil. Trinity Beth, Elizabeth Eberle and Cailyn Rogers had that privilege, and Beth was able to extend her experience by making it to match play after a stellar showing in stroke play where she resided near the top of the leaderboard after one round. In the end, Yana Wilson of Nevada took the title to put a bow on one of the best weeks of the year.

While there was a competition that took place on July 18 at The Standard Club with the Pro-Junior presented by Titleist, the event became more of a celebration for the game itself during one of the feel-good events of the season. PGA Members from across the state competed in a scramble with three junior golfers that showcased the sport’s finest qualities. And there’s no doubt Carson Long felt that way when he made a hole-in-one with his first swing of the day on the par-three 15^th. That set the tone for a banner day when it comes to growing the game, and it was capped off by a victory from Sara Stephens, PGA, Reagan Ramage, Zoe Luebbers, and Sara’s son Nolan.

Other notable July results:

• July 4 – Two rounds of 64 (-8) and a three-for-one playoff highlight dramatic day at Boone’s Trace National during Barbasol’s Monday qualifier.
• July 19-20 – APGA Tour makes second visit to Kentucky with Brad Adamonis winning at Valhalla Golf Club