LEXINGTON, KY (July 7, 2023)- The 44^th Kentucky Boys Junior Amateur finished on Thursday with a dominant performance by Richmond’s Warren Thomis. Playing on the Big Blue Course at the University of Kentucky Club, the back nine of Thomis’ round featured four birdies, allowing him to win one of Kentucky Junior Golf’s biggest events with a four-shot victory.

Thomis went into Thursday’s round tied for the lead at four-under par with Jameson Corbin. Corbin would have a two-shot lead over Thomis going to the back nine. However, it was quickly full steam ahead starting on number 10, where he would make his first of his four back nine birdies. Landon Hunt would also be at the top of the leaderboard going into the final holes. Thomis would go on to birdie three of his last eight, including the tough par 4 15^th which gave him a three-shot lead going into the final three holes. Simpsonville’s Brady Smith, the defending Boys Junior Amateur Champion, had an incredible day putting pressure on those behind him after firing a five-under par 67 for his final round.

Although it seemed as though Thomis was in control, after his victory he stated that “it was a battle coming down the stretch.” Both he and Brady Smith made light of the fact that roles were reversed in 2022, when Smith came away with the five-shot victory over Thomis at the University of Louisville Club. “He beat me by five last year, so I had to make sure to get my final putt to the hole to try to beat him by 5,” Thomis joked after his round.

There was another Boys Junior Amateur Champion for the Boys 13-15 division, which also came down to the wire. Louisville’s Luke Bryant would start the day two shots back from Chase Huff who fired a 71 in the first round on Wednesday. Huff would start the final nine holes for the tournament with a one stroke lead, however Bryant would birdie his tenth and eleventh holes to jump ahead. It was truly back and forth up until the end after Huff went on to eagle the par 5, 7^th hole and get back within one shot. Bryant, however, walked away with the two-shot victory after bombing a drive onto the par 4 9^th green which led to an easy two-putt birdie and the victory.

NOTES & STATS

• The par 4, 15^th hole played the hardest hole for the week with a scoring average of 4.85 and only carding 3 birdies for the two rounds, one of which on day 2 was Champion, Warren Thomis.
• The par 5, 5^th hole was by far the easiest hole on the golf course each day with over 90 birdies for the two rounds including two eagles and a scoring average of 4.79.
• The course played tougher for round 1, Wednesday with a scoring average of 79.39 (+7.39) whereas round 2 averaged 78.85 (+6.85).

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The Kentucky PGA Junior Tour extends its thanks to the entire staff at University of Kentucky Club for their assistance in hosting this event. Additionally, the Tour sends its appreciation towards each player and their families who took part in this major championship.

The next event on the schedule is the 44^th Kentucky Girls + 9 Hole Junior Amateur on July 10-11 at the University of Louisville Club. After this is the Louisville Junior Championship at Nevel Meade Golf Course on July 18-19.