Bluebirds Win Bullitt East Invitational

Highlands Opens Season With Tournament Victory

Twitter Photo. Highlands sophomore Joel Craft (left) holds the Bullitt East Invitational Tournament team championship trophy while seniors Luke Muller (center) and Justin Gabbard (right) hold individual plaques after finishing second and third. Highlands shot a 294 to win the 18-team tournament.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys golf team won its first tournament of the season at the Tanglewood Golf Course in Taylorsville on Friday.

Highlands won the 18-team tournament shooting a 294. The Bluebirds defeated 8th Region rival Grant County and Cooper from Northern Kentucky in a field comprised of teams mostly from around central Kentucky. The Bluebirds also won the tournament two years ago.

Seniors Luke Muller and Justin Gabbard shot under the par of 72 to lead the way. Muller shot five under for a 67 on the 18-hole course and Gabbard shot one under for 71. Muller finished second in the tournament and Gabbard third.

The third returning region golfer from last year in sophomore Joel Craft shot a 77. But the Bluebirds received a huge lift from junior Jack Schneider with a 79 putting the four scorers below 80.

"We played well," said Bert Richey, Highlands Head Coach. "A lot of it depends on the course. But when you have two kids under par and two other kids that shoot in the 70s, you're going to win a lot."

Richey described Tanglewood as wet. He said hitting the ball well with the driver and keeping it in play was a key.

"Our kids drove the ball well so we were in position to attack the course," Richey said. "Don't fight (the wind). It did start raining on us. But there wasn't much wind."

Richey said Schneider in addition to senior Isaiah Lampkin and junior Charlie Gorman could have impacts like that this year. The trio came out after not playing on the team last year.

"It shows how much potential and depth we have in our line-up," Schneider said. "This is probably one of the better decisions I've made this year. It's not been one of the best years in 2020. But I love hanging out with the golf team, training the younger golfers and having Luke, JD and Joel as mentors. They've been playing for so long. They know exactly what they are doing."

Highlands plays in seven tournaments in eight days to open the season. The next tournament is Aug. 1 in the Mason County/St. Patrick Invitational at the Maysville Country Club. Tee time is 7 a.m. The first Highlands team tees off at 9 a.m.