Much of the nation turns its attention towards football in September, but this is Golf House Kentucky. Not Football House Kentucky. The year that was continued on the Kentucky links as we opened the month with the Challenge Cup. A fan-favorite where the previous season’s top amateurs and top PGA Members square off for a day in this Ryder Cup-style event. The amateurs prevailed at The Club at Olde Stone by a 15-9 mark, buoyed by Team KGA Captain and KGA President Dave Nicholas.

One of the most popular Section events of the year took place on September 9 as Gay Brewer – Picadome Golf Course was visited for the Titleist-FootJoy Team Championship. Brad Bachand and Will Bishop found themselves in a playoff against Scott Webb and Cooper Eberle, but Bachand/Bishop claimed victory on the second hole of sudden-death. This event featured 36 holes in one day with a morning round composed of four-ball and an afternoon round filled with alternate shot.

Later that week, Hurstbourne Country Club greeted the remaining six competitors in the season-long Kentucky PGA Match Play Championship. Chad Douglas won the Member Division bracket after beating Tom Walters 4&2, Jesse Massie defeated Bray Maynard by the same margin to win the Assistants Division title, while Bruce Oldendick beat Barry Bonifield 4&3 for the Senior Division trophy.

The KGA took the spotlight for the latter half of the month beginning with the 2019 KGA Am Series Championship which took place at Kearney Hill Golf Links. The following players came out on top in the respective flights to mark a phenomenal conclusion to the decade on the KGA Am Series.

• Andrew Strother - Open, Gross
• Andrew Strother - Open, Net
• Kevin Auton - Senior, Gross
• Jerry Mayes - Senior, Net
• Gary Backlund - Masters, Gross
• Ricky Bourne - Masters, Net
• Doug Jenkins - Legends, Gross
• Gary Minch - Legends, Net

University Club of Kentucky then hosted the final crown jewel on the KGA calendar with the conduction of the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Kentucky Mid-Amateur. The event became the Matt Epperson show as the Lexington-based product ran away with the championship, defeating Andy Roberts by four strokes. In the other flights of the championship, Rob Petrey claimed the Senior Division, Gary Backlund captured the Masters Division and Elmo Greer came away with the Legends Division.

Also taking place in September was the inaugural All-State Championship which University Club of Kentucky also hosted. This new event for high school golfers became an instant hit and shows signs for lots of promise in years to come. John Marshall Butler and Trinity took the boys’ individual and team competitions while Mattie Neeley and Lexington Christian Academy emerged victorious on the girls’ side.

Golf House Kentucky additionally hosted the first Kentucky Women’s Team Championship at Bardstown Country Club. A sibling-driven partnership in Katie and Rachel Gathof won the Open Division, Joan Rizer and Jane Roby came out on top in the Senior Gross Division, while Connie Edelen and Mary Royalty got the job done in the Senior Net Division.