Welcome back to Par for the Course. After a month off, this golf-centric column is making its return in the pages of the News Journal just in time to preview the upcoming fall season. That will be my primary focus for the next several weeks, so let’s get right into it with the Corbin Redhounds…
Head Coach Joe Roberts is returning to lead the way for the CHS boys, and despite graduating a pair of veteran players from last year’s roster, he said his 2025 squad will once again feature a good level of talent and experience.
“We will have three returning players in our top five, and we have some JV guys who should be competing for that number four and five spot,” Roberts said.
Roberts said that his top three returning players – Brody Faulkner, Ethan Gambrel and Brady Webb – will be counted on to set the tone on the course for the next couple of seasons. With two of the three being juniors, and the third being a sophomore, he is excited about the prospects of this core group being around for the next couple of seasons.
“We’re a little young, but we’re going to have a lot of experience at the top for the next two years,” Roberts explained. “Our top three guys are going to have a lot of time under their belt with their varsity experience.”
When this column gets released, we will just be days away from wrapping up the summer dead period for high school athletics. That means that Roberts and company will soon be resuming practice sessions ahead of their first official competition later this month.
“July 15 is the first day that we’ll be able to do anything, and our first tournament will be on the 21st,” Roberts said.
In terms of competition, Roberts said that the field of teams in Region 10 will pose many challenges in the weeks and months ahead. Notably, he expects Rockcastle County to be extremely competitive. He also mentioned Clay County, Jackson County and South Laurel as teams who should be in the conversation to achieve great things, and he expects some talented golfers to come out of Somerset as well.
Still, Roberts has a great deal of confidence in his team’s ability, specifically his returning varsity starters. “Individually, I have three guys who, if they put the time in and put the work in, they can make it to state,” Roberts said.
In addition to making a run at regional and KHSAA State Championships, the Hounds are also looking forward to once again competing in the KY 2A Championships next month.
Look in the pages of the News Journal throughout the upcoming fall sports season for updates concerning the golf Hounds and other coverage area teams.
