Golf Round-Up: Highlands Boys Earn Biggest Win of Season

Gabbard Earns Medalist Honors Defeating Defending Individual State Champion

Highlands senior Luke Muller fires a shot in a recent tournament.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys golf team faced some of the best around the state Monday and came away with what Head Coach Bert Richey called the team's biggest win of the season.

Highlands won the Frederick Douglass Invitational at Greenbrier Country Club in Lexington shooting a 302 out of 18 teams. This marked the fifth win in eight tournaments this year.

The Bluebirds outdistanced runner-up Marshall County by seven at 309 overcoming a two-hour rain delay. McCracken County and Ryle tied for third with 310 and region rival Mason County took fifth with 311.

"We played well," Richey said. "It rained on us for the first six holes. Our guys kept their wits about themselves. They didn't make any big numbers."

The Montgomery County Indians finished sixth with 324. Marshall County finished fourth in the state last year and the Indians took 11th out of 12 teams.

Highlands senior and Xavier University commit Justin Gabbard won medalist honors with a 69 for a three-under on the par 72 course that has 6,516 total yards. Gabbard shot four birdies (one under par) to win the tournament.

Gabbard bested last year's individual state champion in Marshall County senior Jay Nimmo. Nimmo, a Mississppi State University commit, tied Highlands senior Luke Muller for second with a two-under 70. Muller shot three birdies.

"I think it's a very obvious indicator we're going to be up there with the big dogs this year," Gabbard said. "In golf, success doesn't come very often. When you're in a big tournament like that and you know what you need to beat a great player like Jay Nimmo, the athlete inside of you really kicks in. It shows who is stronger mentally who can come out on top. That's great experience for the state tournament in case Luke or I are in that position. We know how to get it done because we want it more than anyone else."

Highlands Eighth Grader Hank Shick and sophomore Joel Craft rounded out the scoring. Shick shot a personal-best 81 and Craft shot 82. Craft had one birdie.

The Bluebirds do not golf again until Saturday in the Scott County Invitational. Tee time is 8 a.m. at Cherry Blossom Golf Course in Georgetown.

Highlands Girls Play in Mercy Invitational:

Highlands took 10th out of 11 teams with a 415 at Nevel Meade Golf Course in Prospect in Oldham County.

Senior Ellie Rowland shot 89 to tie for 11th and junior KJ Toole shot 90 to tie for 12th. Shelby County won the tournament shooting 326.

"The girls were less familiar with the course," said Mike Lipscomb, Highlands Head Coach. "It is longer than they're used to playing. We played six tournaments in nine days. It was bound to happen. But they'll bounce back."

Highlands plays Bishop Brossart in a dual match on Wednesday at AJ Jolly Golf Course in Alexandria. Tee time is 3:15 p.m.