RICHMOND, Ky. – Four past champions are set to tee it up in the 32nd Clark's Pump-N-Shop Kentucky Mid-Amateur this week at Gibson Bay Golf Course in Richmond.

A field of Kentucky's best Mid-Amateur golfers will endure 54-holes of stroke play over 2 days before crowning this year's champion. This year's event is WAGR (World Amateur Golf Ranking) ranked.

Tyler Sharpe is the only multi-time champion in the field. He won in 2009 at Danville Country Club and again in 2012 at Bardstown Country Club at Maywood. A third title would make Sharpe the third three-time winner in championship history, alongside Andy Roberts (2008, 2010, 2018) and David Jasper (2013, 2014, 2015). Other past champions include Austin Gutgsell (2022), Matt Epperson (2019) and Joshua Rhodes (2011).

Gibson Bay brings a history of its own. Designed by Michael Hurdzan in 1993, the course received an honorable mention from Golf Digest for best new public golf course in the United States. The par-72 layout measures 7,100 yards and sits along Richmond's 450-acre Lake Reba recreational complex.

Gibson Bay is long and open, which allows the wind to become a factor in shot-making. Windy conditions are expected Friday, which could play a major factor over the final nine holes of the championship.  Players will not find much trouble off the tee, but wayward drives often lead to side-hill lies and awkward approach shots. Many of the greens are set into hillsides and protected by strategically placed bunkers and mounding, putting a premium on precise iron play.

The front nine offers a mix of tests and scoring chances. The par-3 third hole demands precision, as shots that carry over the green leave a difficult recovery. The par-5 seventh is a classic risk-reward hole. A drive placed near the tree line on the right gives players a chance to reach the green in two, but a creek guards the small putting surface. The par-4 eighth follows as one of the shorter holes on the course, and players who navigate the tree line on the left will have a good look at birdie.

The back nine includes several of the course's more demanding holes. The long par-4 11th requires an accurate tee shot and features a green with a severe right-to-left slope, making par a good score. The par-5 16th begins with a blind tee shot followed by a downhill approach, giving players one more good birdie opportunity late in the round. Gibson Bay’s signature hole, the par-3 17th which requires a forced carry over water to a multi-tiered green can be the make or break in this championship. 

First-round tee times on Thursday begin between 8 and 8:15 a.m. ET off Nos. 1 and 10, with second-round tee times starting between 1 and 1:15 p.m. ET. The final round on Friday begins between 8 and 8:15 a.m. ET off Nos. 1 and 10.

Live scoring for the championship will be available at https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/5713850.

The Kentucky Golf Association extends its gratitude to Clark's Pump-N-Shop for its title sponsorship and continued support of golf in the Commonwealth, and to Gibson Bay Golf Course and its staff for hosting this year's championship. 

About the KGA

The Kentucky Golf Association (KGA) is the official governing body for amateur golf in the Commonwealth, as recognized by the United States Golf Association (USGA). Established in 1911, the KGA is a full-service organization representing more than 120 member golf courses across Kentucky. Led by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of course representatives from throughout the state, the KGA plays a vital role in promoting, supporting, and growing the game of golf in Kentucky. It is also a founding member of Golf House Kentucky, the umbrella organization for Kentucky’s Family of Golf Organizations. As an Allied Golf Association of the USGA, the KGA is responsible for a wide range of services, including managing the World Handicap System, conducting course ratings, providing expertise on the Rules of Golf, running competitive tournaments and USGA qualifiers, and enhancing the visibility and branding of golf throughout the Commonwealth.