Highlands Senior Girls Golfer Shoots Best Round of Career at State

Toole Ties for 29th Overall

Twitter Photo. Highlands senior KJ Toole shot an 80 on the second day of the state tournament Wednesday. Her two-day total of 164 tied her for 29th overall.

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Highlands senior girls golfer KJ Toole had one round of golf left in her career Wednesday and she made the most of it.

Toole shot a career-best eight-over 80 on the 18-hole par 72 course on the final day of the state tournament at the Bowling Green Country Club. That total went down by four strokes from the 84 shot Tuesday to make the individual cut to the second day for a two-day total of 164 good for a tie for 29th overall.

"I've been blessed and really lucky, especially having (Highlands Head) Coach Mike (Lipscomb) my high school years," Toole said. "I've worked hard and I really enjoyed it. The outcome is just a byproduct of what I've put in. It means a lot."

Bullitt East junior Macie Brown won the individual title shooting a two-day total of 141 shooting a three-under par 69 on the second day. Marshall County won the team title.

Toole improved her score by eight strokes from last year when she finished 58th overall. She shot an 88 on the second day last year for a two-day total of 172. She also shot an 84 on the first day last year.

"I'm so proud of her and all that she accomplished in her fantastic golfing career," Lipscomb said. "The school and our team couldn't have sent a better representative of Highlands to the state tournament. I would have to say that KJ is one of the best female golfers to come through Highlands. The sky is the limit for her and I can not wait to see what she does with her future."

Toole made the tournament for the third year in a row. She did not make the individual cut in 2019.

"This year, I even struggled some," Toole said. "This week, I've been kind of battling a back injury some so you can see it reflected in my scores. (Tuesday) in the front nine, I was three over. (Wednesday) on the front nine, I was one over. Then on the back, it's kind of hard to keep up that pace and that play when you have a little injury bothering you. I just hung in there mentally. No one wants to walk away in your final round down there and not feel too good."

Toole also helped the Bluebirds win their first tournament since Lipscomb took over the program in 2018. Highlands won the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Division II title. She earned medalist honors shooting a 78.