Golfers compete in boys’ local Ryder Cup

September 19, 2018 | 3:05 am

Updated September 19, 2018 | 3:05 am

Golfers from across the county competed in the local version of the Ryder Cup at Ben Hawes Tuesday. | Photo by Ryan Richardson

Rather than representing their own golf teams, boys from the area high schools mixed together on a pair of squads that competed against each other in a local version of the Ryder Cup.

The event, hosted by Daviess County at Ben Hawes with nine holes each Monday and Tuesday, gives the players a chance to compete in a different type of environment. Panthers head coach Lars King revived the tournament after it fizzled out about a decade ago.

“We started it back up because all the guys have a good relationship with each other,” he said. “They are all friends, and it gives them a chance to have some fun without being so serious on the course.”

The teams for the Cup are formed by assessing the average score on the season for each golfer. Essentially, King said he simply goes straight down the list — low scores to high — to create the groupings.

The golfers play as foursomes, with a pair of players from team one grouped with their counterpart from team two. Though they do compete, it’s only for bragging rights.

“It’s not about wins or losses,” King said. “It’s about getting the kids out there to have fun and enjoy golfing. There’s not the usual pressure of playing a match.”

That’s not to say there’s no pressure, as King said no golfer wants to let his teammate down, even if it’s someone from another school.

“If you hit a bad shot, you’re literally letting down the person standing there watching you,” he said. “That’s different, because you usually don’t play on the same holes as your teammates.”

King said the format varies from year to year. This year, the golfers played nine holes of alternate shot Monday, while Tuesday was a two-man scramble. Each grouping can earn one point each day for their team, and there are a total of five groups per team.

While the Ryder Cup provides one last chance to have fun, the teams are beginning final preparations for the postseason.

The regional golf tournament will be held Tuesday at the Madisonville Country Club. The two lowest-scoring teams, as well as the three lowest-scoring individuals not on those teams, will advance to the state tournament.

September 19, 2018 | 3:05 am

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