Cathryn Brown loves playing golf at the Bowling Green Country Club. She usually played in a handful of tournaments there before the crown jewel of the high school season — the state tournament.
Cathryn practically grew up on the course, watching her brother Cullan play in the state tournament year after year. She watched her brother win the 2016 state title as a junior — becoming the first Lyon County athlete to win an individual state title in any sport.
And that’s what drove Cathryn at this week’s girls’ state tournament. There was a little more intensity in her game. Some cutting up with the other players but not as much as last year when she claimed a tie for seventh place while playing in a group with eventual winner and good friend Macey Brown of Apollo.
After the first day, Cathryn was one shot off the lead and in a position to repeat the feat of her brother — win the state title as a junior.
Of course, the accomplishment would be minus her biggest fan — Cullan, who died of cancer the same week Cathryn began her sophomore season on the course.
Friends and family filled the void, cheering her every shot. Watching her bombs off the tee. Admiring her approaches to the cup. But she just couldn’t get the midrange putts to fall.
Midway through the back nine and playing in the lead group that included eventual champion Macie Brown of Bullitt East, the realization hit Cathryn that she wasn’t going to win. She was playing good golf. Just not championship golf.
The cart pushes were approaching 15-20 feet — usually a sign of frustration from a golfer who chooses to use the two-wheeled carts instead of carrying their bag. Her pace quickened between holes. Another sign.
She made par on her last three holes to finish with a 2-over 74 for the day and finish six shots off the lead. A third-place finish at state. The best finish for a Lyon County girls’ golfer at state.
And after the disappointment of not winning the state title began to wane, she realized what she had done and even said there were times on the course when she knew Cullan was with her. Watching over her.
She talked about that important reason for winning in this YSE interview.
