Hancock County’s Dek Lewko outlasted Owesnboro’s Nolan Warren in a playoff that lasted two holes to claim the individual title Monday at the Owensboro Catholic Invitational at The Pearl Club. The OHS boys’ golf ran away with the team title, marking their fourth tournament victory already this season.
Just a couple days after winning the Daviess County Invitational, the Red Devils continued their torrid streak by posting a 294 on Monday — 17 strokes better than second-placed Daviess County.
Warren finished with a 1-under-par 71, while teammate Jax Malone shot a 72. Rounding out the team’s top four scores were Cole Crews and Will Rickard who shot 75 and 76, respectively.
“We have had different people contribute each time. Of course, Nolan Warren has been a very steady competitor for us,” head coach Pat Hume said. “He’s been first or second in every event. It was good to see Jax Malone step up and shoot even par today. It was a big day for him. Cole Crews, nice step up from our five-man shooting 75 today. We preach team effort. We have five guys and count four scores. We’ve been lucky enough to have four guys play pretty well in each of the tournaments this year.”
DC’s team score of 311 was just enough to edge past third-place Hanock County’s 312. Host Owensboro Catholic entered two teams, which finished fourth and ninth with 321 and 341, respectively. Luke Estes finished with the top score on his team with a 74.
Apollo and McClean County finished 12th and 13th, respectively.
While Owensboro cruised to another victory, all eyes were on the individual battle for the top spots. After a lengthy delay to tally the scores, it was announced that Warren and Lewko tied for first with a 71.
Malone, Daviess County’s Grant Broughton, and Ohio County’s Shawn Cotton finished in a three-way tie for third with scores of 72. Cotton won the playoff to officially finish third.
Lewko and Warren headed to the first hole for a sudden death playoff, with both boys shooting par. A second playoff hole ensured, this time on No. 18. Warren started with a solid drive, while Lewko’s drive left much to be desired. Yet, he remained unfazed.
“Definitely after the first shot, (my thought) was to make him beat me,” Lewko said. “Strike a shot, make a par. Make him go out of his way to make a birdie to beat me.”
With a chance to win, Warren’s birdie putt banged off the back of the hole and he was unable to sink the follow-up par putt. Lewko saved par to claim the win.
“I had a slow start and then I got hot,” Lewko said of his performance. “I hit three birdies in a row and I started rolling it well. The driver helped a lot hitting fairways. Then I was hitting puts, clutch puts. I made a big putt on 18. For playoffs, the putter was good. The wedge was good. I just kept it together.”
With school starting this week, teams will start playing more nine-hole matches and having practices to slow down what has been a blistering start to the season.
Story by Max Rayman
