Kayla Meredith Finishes High School Golf Career, Wins Scholarship At State Tournament

Edmonson Voice Staff
Photos by ECHS Golf
​Most successful high school athletes set goals before each season starts, and the ones that work the hardest usually reach one or more of those goals. ECHS Lady Cat Senior Golfer Kayla Meredith set some high goals before this season began as her senior year approached, and because of her hard work, she was able to reach many of those goals as her high school golf career came to a close this past weekend.

Kayla has been a member of the high school golf team for the past six years and her coaches have said she has improved each year. She wanted to win some KJPGA tournaments, qualify again for All A State, and win a high school tournament.  She did all these.  One of her biggest goals was to qualify to play in the KHSAA State Golf Tournament, and on September 29 at Barren River State Park, she became a qualifier and participated in the KHSAA Tournament on October 9th. 

As her day began at the course, she was visited by former ECHS longtime golf coach, Dr. Dale Gray as he gave her a last minute pep talk before she teed off on hole number one.  Kayla bogeyed the first hole but ended up with a birdie on hole two to even things up. 

Light rain started to fall as Kayla picked up two pars and two bogeys to put her at +2 after six holes.  The rain increased as she added two more pars and double bogeyed hole nine to leave her at +4 on the front nine.

As she started the back nine, rain fell even harder but she managed only one double bogey, while scoring two bogeys, and six pars to finish a great round of 80, despite the adverse weather.  After about a 2 ½ hour wait, she was informed that she made the cut, which allowed her to continue her play the next day. 

On day two, tees were moved and pin placement was more difficult, but simply getting to play was enjoyment enough for this EC Lady Cat.  Playing three days in a row on a tough course wasn't easy, (one practice round, two official rounds) but she was able to post a day-two score of 87. 

Although Kayla didn't break any records or finish in the top ten, she finished 44th in the state (out of 156 total golfers) and was honored by receiving the  KHSAA Leachman Buick GMC $500 scholarship, given to only one senior Kentucky girl's tournament participant each year.

“I was so honored to receive the scholarship from KHSAA and Leachman Buick GMC," Kayla said. "It's been an unbelievable experience to be here and represent Edmonson County.  This has been a goal of mine for a long time and to make it to the second day is truly incredible.” She was also grateful for all the support shown this year. “I can’t thank everyone enough for their support. You all have helped me so much."
 
Girls golf coach Granville Meredith said “I am so very proud of Kayla. She's really worked hard and it's paid off.  Looking back on the summer, she and I spent a lot of weekends on the course or working on her game, but seeing her face when they gave her the scholarship award was worth it all."
 
Coach Meredith also said the support has been solid all year long. “I want to thank everyone who has supported, texted, called, or posted anything online," he added. "We're truly blessed with friends and family.  #WeAreEC has been our motto this year.  No matter where we've traveled to this year, we've tried to represent Edmonson County well."
 
Edmonson County High School Athletic Director Kyle Pierce credited Kayla's hard work over the years. 
"She has consistently improved her game, and it showed in her Class A performance earlier this year and making it to the final round of the KHSAA state tournament to finish her high school career," he said. "She's a tremendous student-athlete and her season reaffirms that hard work does pay off."

The Edmonson Voice salutes Kayla Meredith not only for her accomplishments as an ECHS athlete, but as a great representative of our school system and county. Good luck to Kayla in the future and we thank her for her and her family's contributions to our community.