A year after missing the cut by a single stroke CovCath followed a first-round 305, which had it in third place, with a 310 that left it with a 36-hole score of 615, which was good for third place at Bowling Green Country Club.
Ryle, which edged CovCath by a single stroke to win the Region 7 championship last week, finished fourth for the second straight year with a 629. The Raiders, who made their 12th straight state tournament cut, were tied for sixth after the first round with a 316.
West Jessamine defended its 2012 state championship with a 590 total that took first and last year’s runner-up St. Xavier finished second again at 597. Last year West Jessamine won with a 593 and St. Xavier won with a 595.
“At the end of the day they were the two best teams in the state and they played very well,” said CovCath coach Rob Schneeman. “We were there to make a run if they made some mistakes and take advantage and they didn’t. We stayed with our game plan and didn’t want to make any mistakes and allow someone to pass us either. They each had a special senior that you don’t see around Kentucky very often and they’re probably going to make their mark later on, too, maybe even on the (PGA) Tour.”
West Jessamine senior Fred Allen Meyer fired his second straight 4-under par 68 to win the individual title by three shots over St. Xavier senior Brendon Doyle, who followed a first-round 69 with a 70, but took a triple bogey on the par-4 17th hole.
CovCath was led by junior Paul Huber, who was the low area individual with a 4-over par 148 that was good for ninth place. He followed his first-round 73 with a 75 and was extremely consistent, making four birdies, four bogeys, two double bogeys and 26 pars in his 36 holes.
“He plays the course the way it’s set up and he doesn’t get upset with par,” said Schneeman. “He’s very even-keeled. I never really have to worry about him in around, because he’s just so consistent. He’s just a junior and that’s the rather impressive thing. He’s showing qualities of a Doyle and a Fred Allen Meyer.”
CovCath also got a 150 from senior Brett Bauereis, which was good for a tie for 11th, a 157 from senior Timmy Fritz, which tied for 31st and a 163 from senior Merik Berling, which tied for 56th. Freshman Griffin Flesch, son of PGA Tour pro Steve Flesch, was 65th with a 167.
“It was a good ending for our three seniors,” said Schneeman. “Missing (the cut) by one wasn’t a season-ending conversation I enjoyed last season, so seeing how proud they were was a great feeling.”
Ryle has just one senior so it certainly has a good chance to contend for the state title next season. The Raiders were led by junior Logan Gamm, who won the Region 7 individual title this season and followed a first-round 79 with a 75 that left him in a tie for 19th. Junior Zach Adams also bounced back from a first-round 81 with a 77 that had him tied for 31st. Junior Austin Squires fired a second-straight 79 that tied him for 35th. Sophomore Austin Zapp shot 77-83, which tied him for 45th.
Three area players who qualified as individuals and also made the first-round cut played well. Newport Central Catholic junior Drew McDonald followed a first-round 79 with a 75 and tied for 24th, while Highlands junior Parker Harris followed a first-round 77 with a 79 to tie for 27th and St. Henry junior Luke Tobergte followed a first-round 77 with an 80 to tie for 31st.
Boys' State Golf Tournament at Bowling Green Country Club, 6,795 yards, par 72
Second and Final Round (after 36 holes)
Team Scores: 1, West Jessamine 590. 2, St. Xavier 597. 3, Covington Catholic 615 (8, Paul Huber 148; T11, Brett Bauereis 150; T31 Timmy Fritz 157; T56, Merik Berling 163; 65, Griffin Flesch 167). 4, Ryle 629 (T19, Logan Gamm, 154; T31, Zach Adams 157; T35 Austin Squires 158; T45 Austin Zapp 160; T61, Davis McNichol 166). 5, Scott County 634. 6, South Warren 637. 7, North Oldham 641. 8, McCracken County 644. 9 (tie), Somerset and Graves County 649. 11, Montgomery County 659. 12, Estill County 677.
Top 10 Individuals: 1, Fred Allen Meyer (West Jessamine) 136. 2, Brendon Doyle (St. Xavier) 139. 3, Tyler McDaniel (Clay County) 141. 4, Billy Tom Sargent (Scott County) 144. 5 (tie), Jared Brown (South Warren), Nick Choate (Trigg County) and Conner Haas (West Jessamine) 146. 8, Lance Davis (Graves County) 147. 9, Paul Huber (Covington Catholic) 148. 10, Paul McKinney (Danville) 149.
Local individuals: T24 Drew McDonald (Newport Central Catholic) 155. T27, Parker Harris (Highlands) 156. T31, Luke Tobergte (St. Henry).