With the KHSAA Golf State Tournament coming up next month, the Tiger golf team has been rolling through the competition. The Tigers have won 11 of their past 14 tournaments as a team, most recently capturing the Five Star General Invitational at Picadome Golf Club in Lexington. They now look to be on pace for their first state championship in nearly a decade.
“I think we have the best team in the state,” senior captain Will Stuart said. “We’ve won 11 of our 14 tournaments. Obviously a state championship is the goal, but we have to stay humble and keep our heads down. We are only focused on our next tournament.”
Two Tigers have stepped up in a big way from last season, both in leadership and in their golf games. Juniors Luc Kelty and Brody Alexander, now upperclassmen and the team’s designated one and two, have been on fire as of late. Kelty won the Kentucky Junior PGA Championship back in March, while Alexander recently claimed individual honors at the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Invitational, shooting three under par and earning a Courier Journal nomination for Louisville Area High School Boys Athlete of the Week. Both Kelty and Alexander are averaging under 70 strokes in varsity tournaments this season.
“I’ve grown on and off the golf course in many different ways,” Kelty said. “Having the teammates I did as a freshman really showed me what it meant to be a leader. I’ve always wanted to lead this amazing team, and it’s crazy to see how much both my teammates and I have matured over the years”
“I feel like my goal of making first team All-State, and now maybe Mr. Golf, has helped push me this season,” Alexander said. “I feel more confident with my game than I ever have.”
While the Tigers are fueled by their upperclassmen talent, led by the leadership of seniors Thomas Evans and Will Stuart, their underclassmen have also made a major impact. Sophomores Finn Johnson and Grant Guetig have continued to impress, while freshman Brady Faulkner has quickly made his mark. Last season, as an eighth grader at Christian Academy of Louisville, Faulkner helped knock off the Tigers in the Region Six Tournament, shooting a 73 in just his second year of varsity golf.
For those unfamiliar with the KHSAA State Golf Tournament format: the top two teams from each region earn a spot in the state championship field. Last year, Trinity and CAL claimed the two qualifying spots. This season, St. X looks poised to change that narrative.
“State has been the main goal all season, both individually and as a team,” Brody Alexander said. “Region is going to be tough again this year, and we all will have to perform well. As Coach Finney says, ‘Take care of your part and the rest will follow.’ I think it’s going to be a great postseason.”
With talent, leadership, and momentum on their side, the Tigers have all the tools to make a serious run at becoming the 2025–2026 Kentucky state champions.
