Harlan County High School junior Brayden Casolari did not exactly get off to the start for which he’d hoped Tuesday at the KHSAA Boys’ State Golf Championship at Bowling Green Country Club.
Starting on the 10th hole, Casolari made double bogey to open his round, and the rollercoaster ride began for the three-time Pine Mountain Golf Conference Player of the Year.
En route to a 6-over-par round of 78, Casolari made just eight pars. Casolari recorded three birdies, five bogeys and two double bogeys, finishing the first day of the event tied for 40th in the field of 90 of the state’s top players.
Casolari finds himself eight shots behind first-round co-leaders Charlie Spiller of Lexington Catholic High School and Tucker Jones of Madison Central. Spiller and Jones each recorded rounds of 2-under-par 70, which is one shot clear of three other players.
Just nine golfers posted a score of even-par, or better, Monday on a course that features tight fairways and heavily sloped, fast and firm greens.
“I wasn’t good off the tee all day and that is normally the best part of my game,” Casolari said. “I putted very well today with only 28 putts and played OK, around the greens but was out of position too many times off the tee box to score well.”
Casolari hit three golf balls into hazards on Monday, and one out of bounds — all off the tee. He hit only seven greens in regulation and went directly to the practice tee following his round with an eye on correcting his swing.
“I worked on some stuff after the round on the driving range and when I left was hitting it good,.” Casolari added. “A good round (Tuesday) should put me inside the top 20.
“After today, that is my goal. Play well and try to get into the top 20.”
