Glasgow leads by 12 with less than half a round to go

By JOHN VERSER
Glasgow Daily Times

BOWLING GREEN October 09, 2008 11:13 am

— They’re heading down the home stretch.
After battling rainy conditions and a soggy course over two days, the Glasgow Lady Scotties have built a 12-shot lead after just over a round and a half of play at the KHSAA girls’ state golf tournament at Bowling Green Country Club. The final few holes will be played today with a 7:45 a.m. shotgun start.
And if the Lady Scotties can hold onto their lead, they’ll bring home the school’s fifth girls state golf title.
Glasgow led West Jessamine by two strokes after the completion of the first round on Tuesday and stretched its lead to 12 after the half way point of the second round.
“We were happy with the position we were in because I didn’t think we played our best golf during the first round,” Glasgow coach Mike Harris said. “Our girls got off to a lot better start as a team. I just felt like going into the back, I think we’ve really picked our game up, especially on the back right now.
“But we’ve got to come back tomorrow (Thursday) and take care of business in the morning because there’s still not a winner as far as I’m concerned. West Jessamine is still the state champions until somebody knocks them off. We’ve just got to come back in the morning and take care of business.”
Kristen Wilkinson is 2-over par through nine holes to lead the Lady Scotties in the second round. Blair Dennison is 6-over through 12 holes, while Laura Beth Harris is 7-over, Shannon Bishop is 11-over and Kylie Foushee is 13-over.
Betsie Johnson and Emily Haas are both 5-over to pace West Jessamine in the second round.
Play was stopped at approximately 6:15 p.m. due to darkness.
One advantage Glasgow has is its durability, according to the coach. The Lady Scotties got in at least three holes each on Tuesday and played about 25 holes a piece on Wednesday.
“My kids are in good shape,” coach Harris said. “That’s one thing that I felt like going into it, I felt like that could possibly be an advantage for us, especially if they were going to try to get more than 18 holes in today.”
Wilkinson led the Lady Scotties after the first round with an 8-over 80. Dennison shot an 81, Foushee shot an 83, Laura Beth Harris was at 86 and Bishop had a round of 104.
The Lady Scotties shot 330 as a team in the first round, with West Jessamine at 332. Scott County was third after round one with a 339 tally.
“I’d like to really thank the KHSAA for allowing these girls to go 36 holes, because that is the championship - 18’s not a championship,” coach Harris said. “And I know all the girls were looking forward to playing the full tournament. I appreciate that.”
Monroe County’s Ali Walden, playing as an individual, finished up her first round on Wednesday with a 9-over par 83. Walden made the individual cut, which was set at 86, and ended play with an 80 in the second round for a total of 163.
Caldwell County freshman Emma Talley has breezed through the field in the individual standings. She shot a 7-under 65 in the first round and is 3-under in the second round with three holes to play. At 10-under, Talley leads North Hardin’s Lydia Gumm, who has finished 12 holes in the second round, by nine strokes.
Glasgow continues play this morning with hopes of winning a state title. And despite its lead, Harris said his team still has work to do today.
“What it’s going to take is to continue where we’re at right now, no let downs,” coach Harris said. “(We’ve got to) come out here, get off to another good start and just settle into a routine there and get the rest of the holes done.”

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