CAL's Brady Smith, a U of L commit, halfway home to repeating as KHSAA state golf champion
Another year, another Christian Academy golfer in contention for the state championship.
CAL senior Brady Smith fired a 7-under-par 65 on Friday to take the lead after the first round of the Leachman Buick-GMC-Cadillac KHSAA Golf Championships at Bowling Green Country Club.
Smith, a University of Louisville commit, is the defending champion and is looking to become the third consecutive CAL golfer to win the individual state title. CAL’s Matthew Troutman won the title in 2021.
Smith also is looking to become the first repeat state champion since Marshall County’s Jay Nimmo in 2019-20.
Smith was steady Friday, with seven birdies and no bogeys. He had 10 one-putts.
“Brady always comes ready to compete,” CAL coach Greg Zimmerer said. “He loves the competition. … I’m looking forward to watching him go out and compete for another state championship tomorrow. Should be a lot of fun watching him try to make history.”
Smith holds a 2-shot lead over Madison Central’s Warren Thomis (67) and a 4-shot edge over Oldham County’s Tyler Wirth (69).
Other Louisville-area golfers in contention for the title are Spencer County’s Seth Shelley (74), South Oldham’s Colton Woosley (74), South Oldham’s Caleb King (74), CAL’s Brady Faulkner (75), Trinity’s William Hudson (75) and South Oldham’s Griffin Barke (75).
Thomis helped Madison Central take the lead in the race for the team title, as the defending champions finished the first round with a 7-over 295.
South Oldham is 7 shots back in second place at 302, and St. Xavier is third at 315.
Saturday’s final round will tee off at 9 a.m. EDT.
More high school golf: Sacred Heart gets first KHSAA team title since 2017, earns record 12th state crown
Reach Jason Frakes at jfrakes@courier-journal.com and follow him on X @kyhighs.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA state golf tournament 2023: Smith of Christian Academy in lead
