— Justin McGill/Tribune-Courier || Travis Thompson watches a tee shot Saturday. Thompson, last year’s state individual champion, lost on the first hole of a playoff with champion David Payne of St. Xavier.

Oh so close: Marshals, Thompson second at state

By Justin McGill
Tribune-Courier Managing Editor
jmcgill@tribunecourier.com

BOWLING GREEN – Last weekend, the Marshall County Marshals shot 10 strokes better than their state championship score from last season, but it wasn’t enough to top St. Xavier.
MCHS shot a two-day team score of 585, three strokes more than the champion Tigers.

“We were down five shots with about five holes to play,” MCHS head coach Brent Lovett said. “I don’t know for sure if we got back to even, but St. X has some good golfers and they came out on top. It’s tough to hang your hed on a state runner-up, but that’s how competitive our guys are. We wanted it and had the talent to win a state championship, but it wasn’t meant to be. I don’t think we lost anything. St. X came and won. That’s easier to take than losing.”

Defending state individual champ Travis Thompson had a chance to repeat his title win as well, but he lost on the first hole of a playoff with David Payne of St. X.

Thompson was in position to win outright, but his second shot on the par-5 18th hole landed in a bush and he had to take a penalty stroke after dropping out of the unplayable lie. He saved bogey to tie Payne, but his tee shot on the playoff – also No. 18 – was lost in the rough on the right side of the fairway.

“I tried to put everything I had into hitting it in the fairway,” Thompson said. “No. 18 killed me both times.”

Thompson (second, 71-68 139) was followed for the Marshals by Peter Meeks, who finished fourth with a two day score of 143 (71-72).

Patrick Newcomb was tied for third after the first day with a 3-under par 69. He shot 76 on Saturday for a two-day total of 145.

Travis Ross (82-78) and Cameron Brown (84-76) each shot 160 for the Marshals.

“We gave it everything we had and that’s all we could do,” Thompson said. “We knew we’d have to play our A-plus game. We played our A game and St. X played their A-plus game. They deserve it.”