Sep. 26—Madison Central coach Kyle Congleton was confident his team was prepared — mentally and physically — to put together another deep postseason run.
He was, though, a bit stunned by their performance this past weekend during a practice round at Gibson Bay.
“They lit this place up,” Congleton said. “They put a score together I’ve never seen on this course. I think it raised the stakes a little bit for what we expected them to do.”
The Indians lived up to those expectations.
Madison Central shot a 291 and rolled to a 13-shot victory at the Region 9 Tournament on Wednesday at Gibson Bay Golf Course in Richmond. The Indians had three players finish in the top eight — Tucker Jones (-2, 70, T1), Radney Bales and Jake Feldhaus (E, 72, T7).
Seth Barker shot a +5, 77 (T12) and Reece Keeton (78) tied for 24th as Central rolled to a fourth-straight region championship.
The Indians and Frederick Douglass both advance to the semi-state tournament next week in Somerset.
Central pulled away from the field on the back nine, posting 11 birdies on a rainy, overcast day, including three on No. 16.
“It was a totally different feel out there today (then the practice round this past weekend),” Congleton said. “It felt like we struggled at times, but we still put up a great score. The guys got hot on the back nine.”
Jones led the charge down the stretch.
The junior had birdies on No. 12, 13, 14 and 16.
“I showed I could do some damage,” said Jones, who shot a 32 on the back nine. “It was fun.”
For Jones, it was his first opportunity to play in the regional tournament in two years. He was not eligible last season after transferring from Model Laboratory.
“I just want to get out here, have some fun and show what I could do,” Jones.
The junior finished in a four-way tie for the individual lead with Bradford Lacefield of Woodford County, Drew Edwards of Frederick Douglass and Charlie Spiller of Lexington Catholic.
Spiller claimed the title with a birdie on the second playoff hole.
In 2022, Jones shot an 82 at the regional.
On Wednesday, he came within one stroke of a championship.
“He puts as much work in as anybody — not only in our program, but across the state,” Congleton said of Jones. “He has turned himself into one of the top players in the state. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Bales had six birdies and six bogies, while Feldhaus had four birdies, including two on the final three holes.
Madison Southern (+49) finished 12th in the team standings.
John Harris led the way for the Eagles, shooting a +9, 81, and finishing tied for 32nd. Zane Lewis (82) tied for 32nd. Trey Helton (86) tied for 50th. Conner Patterson (88) tied for 59th and Cooper Hicks (103) was 86th.
Model Laboratory (+92) was 19th.
Davis Cole (85, T44) led the way for the Patriots, while Garrett Kidd (92) tied for 69th, Tucker Meeks (98) tied for 79th, Luca Cropper (105) was 87th and Aiden Flynn (139) was 87th.
