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West Jessamine Senior Ethan Loghry capped his prep career in grand style, posting rounds of 73-75–148 to finish in a tie for sixth overall in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association State Boys Golf Championships last Tuesday and Wednesday at Bowling Green Country Club.

The Colts’ season-long medalist was even-par (36) on the front nine both days – he started on Hole No. 10 on Day One playing as an individual – and carded four birdies, 24 pars, and no double-bogeys. He finished in a tie for ninth with his opening 36-37–73 in his state finals debut before moving up in the 89-player field with a 36-39–75.

Junior Brady Smith of Christian Academy of Louisville claimed individual medalist honors, largely thanks to an impressive start, with his 67-73–140. Runner-up Seth Smith was the lone competitor to break par in both rounds, with the Taylor County senior finishing a stroke behind at 71-70–141. Junior Sam  Guest of Collins was next at 73-70–143.

Madison Central captured the team title behind junior Warren Thomis in fourth at 70-74–144 and senior Mason Hamrick in fifth at 69-76–145.

Loghry shared the sixth spot with fellow seniors Clay Pendergrass of Madison Central (75-73), Zach Watterson of Lee County (79-69) and Grey Goff of Lexington Christian Academy (74-74), and junior Ben Davenport of Bowling Green (72-76).

They were followed on the leaderboard by Bradford Lacefield of Woodford County, Hayden Adams of Sayre, and Trey Wall of Marshall County, tied for 11th at 149, with McKean Collins of LCA, Micah Bertram

of Ballard and Tyler Wirth of Oldham County tied for 14th at 150.

Trailing Madison Central (297-303–600) in the nine-team field of KHSAA State First Round survivors were LCA in second (308-301–609), 3. Bowling Green (304-307–611), 4. Taylor County (306-309–615), 5. Oldham County (316-302–618), 6. Marshall County (309-318–627), 7. South Oldham (327-314–641), 8. Pulaski County (336-320–656) and 9. Highlands (339-346–685).

Under the new post-season format, Loghry was the lone West Jessamine player to advance out of the KHSAA State First Round Tournament Monday, Sept. 26, at Owensboro Country Club. Coach Shaun

Gordon’s squad finished third in Regional qualifying and did not advance as a team, but four individuals did make it to the KHSAA State First Round level.

Ironically, Loghry, Seth Smith, Davenport, and Wall were among a dozen players tied for 10th in the State First Round and surviving to play even better in the finals.

Loghry recorded a 77 at Owensboro C.C. Fellow West Jessamine senior John Mason Spencer, sophomore Chris Kelley, and Junior Alan Griffeth did not advance. Loghry is the second West Jessamine representative in the state finals in the last two years; teammate Nate Stratton shot a 77 in the 2021 Regional Tournament.

As a sophomore, Loghry just missed a berth in the state meet. Loghry and Xander Tucker of Bethlehem tied for the eighth and final slot in the 4th Region Tournament, with Tucker moving on following a playoff.

Loghry averaged 74.5 strokes for 13 previous tournaments as a senior, checking in with the Colts’ low-score standard in all but three of their 20 outings, including seven nine-hole dual matches.

Last season, he birdied seven holes to post a career-best 68 at Connemara. He still needed another birdie on the first playoff hole to top Sayre’s Adams for medalist honors in the West Jessamine Invitational.

His Fall 2022 highlights, before the State Finals, included a 70 in the West Jess Invite, only to lose a three-hole playoff for medalist honors; a five-under par 31 in a dual meet with Garrard County at Peninsula Golf and Resort; a one-under 71 for third in the 20-team Model Invitational at The University Club at Arlington, par-72s at the LCA Kentucky Cup at University Club-Big Blue and Clay County’s Gimme Golf Invite at Boone’s Trace National Golf Club and a one-over par 72 at the Central Kentucky Bluegrass Conference Tournament at The Woodford Club to lead the Colts to a team title.