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Payton Carter Wins Clark's Pump-N-Shop Women's Kentucky Amateur in Thrilling Title Match

Carter tops Marcum in barn burner for first Women’s State Amateur title.

GEORGETOWN, KY (June 22, 2022) – One of the greatest, if not the greatest title match in the storied history of the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Women’s Kentucky Amateur took place today at Cherry Blossom Golf Club. Payton Carter (6) edged reigning champion Rylea Marcum (1) 2&1 in a match where the finalists’ best-ball score would have been -11 thru 17 holes.

Carter, a senior for the Murray State Racers, found herself 2 DOWN after the 3rd hole following a couple of early birdies from the 2021 champion. Carter immediately responded with consecutive birdies on the 4th and 5th holes to tie the match and got the lead for the first time on the 7th hole when another birdie got her 1 UP. Marcum was able to convert a birdie opportunity on the 9th hole to send them to the back nine at the same spot they were at the start of the match – all even.

Matching pars on the 10th and 11th holes gave way to another run of birdies from Carter, as she won the 12th and 13th holes to go 2 UP for the first time in the match. Once again, however, Marcum showed her resolve and promptly made two straight birdies of her own on the 14th and 15th holes which tied the match back up. A critical bogey from Marcum on the par-three 16th, one of just two bogeys made in the entire match, gave Carter the lead back heading to the 17th. With her sixth birdie of the day, Carter ended the match at that point giving the newly crowned 2022 champion a thrilling victory over the 2021 champion.

“I knew I had to make birdies all day to beat (Rylea),” Carter said after the match. “I focused on one shot at a time throughout the day; hit the fairway, hit the green, make the putt. Rylea didn’t miss a putt to start the day, but I was able to get a few holes on her and hold on. It’s been a great year, and this win just adds to it. I’m thankful for the amazing golf I’ve been able to play and for the opportunity to be the champion of this event.”

The tournament’s Senior Championship Division was also decided on Wednesday, where Robin Brockman (2) of Versailles defeated Teena Freibert (1), also from Versailles, with a 5&4 victory. Brockman was 1 UP after 10 holes but won four holes in a row from 11-14 to close the match in style.

Click here to view the final brackets

Click here to view the photo gallery

Off the golf course, the tournament committee announced that Abigayle Buchanan and Kylah Lunsford are the recipients of this year’s Dorothy Waters Scholarship. This recognition is for participants not yet 18 years old who demonstrate exceptional integrity, honor and sportsmanship. Buchanan, Lunsford and their families will use the money from these scholarships to defray the expenses of tournament golf.

The Kentucky Golf Association extends its thanks to Luther Conley, PGA General Manager and the entire staff at Cherry Blossom for their assistance and hospitality throughout the championship. The KGA also lends its appreciation towards each player and spectator who made the 95th edition of the tournament a special one.

More prestigious women’s golf tournaments in Kentucky are on the way in the coming weeks, as the 26th Kentucky Women’s Open will be at Bellefonte Country Club on July 11-12. Exactly one month after that, the Kentucky Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Championship will be at the University Club of Kentucky’s Big Blue course on August 11-12. Each of those tournaments is open for registration and can be completed at the above links.

About the Kentucky Golf Association:
The Kentucky Golf Association (KGA) is one of the three organizations encompassed under Golf House Kentucky, in addition to the Kentucky Golf Foundation (KGF) and Kentucky PGA Section (KPGA). The Kentucky Golf Association represents the amateur body of Kentucky’s golfers working in assistance with the United States Golf Association (USGA). The KGA provides a wide range of services, including handicapping, USGA course and slope ratings, and tournament management software to its Member Clubs. The KGA also operates the state’s premier amateur tournaments along with USGA National Championship qualifiers. Alongside the KGF and KPGA, the KGA strives to promote the benefits and enjoyment of golf while continuing to grow the sport across the Commonwealth.

Media Contact:
Ethan Fisher, PGA | Golf House Kentucky | efisher@kygolf.org | (502) 792-9703

About Golf House Kentucky

Golf House Kentucky is the umbrella organization for Kentucky’s Family of Golf Organizations: Kentucky Golf Association, Kentucky PGA and Kentucky Golf Foundation. The vision of Kentucky’s golf leaders, Golf House Kentucky was founded in 1978, and is headquartered in a picturesque country setting in Louisville, Kentucky. Golf House Kentucky conducts competitions for golfers of all ages, gender and skill levels (amateur, professional and junior), and provides valuable services to Kentucky PGA professionals and member golf facilities. Working in partnership with the USGA, Golf House Kentucky provides individual golfers and member golf facilities with a wide range of services: Handicapping, USGA Course and Slope Rating, award programs, club consulting and golf management software. The family’s philanthropic affiliate, Kentucky Golf Foundation promotes the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame, Kentucky golf museum and provides grant and scholarship programs for youth in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

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