The 2025 girls’ golf high school season is officially underway, and each team enters with different goals and expectations.
Apollo: With only one girl on the roster last year in Caitlyn Cecil, the E-Gals enter this season with four athletes and a brand-new head coach in Emily Lyons. Cecil enters this season as the team’s number one, and she is joined by Lillian Connor, Annie Halbig, and Brylie Hardin.
Connor’s brother is on the boys’ team and spent last year on the archery team before transitioning to the course. Both Halbig and Hardin are new to the game of golf and are still in the process of learning the basics.
“It has been amazing to teach these girls,” Lyons said. “By week two, I had already seen so much progress since I let them use my golf clubs in the first week. By the second week, they came back with their own clubs, and they were listening and just watching them grow. …Going from I just started golf, and I am already better than three practices ago. Watching that has been awesome to see that progress.”
With a mostly new roster, Lyons wants to build a positive environment and wants the girls to understand and respect each other.
“To come together as a team and cheer each other and see each other’s growth,” Lyons said. “Honestly, if we achieve that year, I did my job as a coach this year.”
Daviess County: A year after finishing fifth at state, the Lady Panthers return their entire core, with Claire Reynolds leading the way. The senior already has multiple top five individual finishes to start this season, including placing fifth at the South Warren Lady Spartans Golf Invitational.
Joining her from last years state team are Baylie Billingsley, Briley Billingsley, and Alexa Salamah, while eighth grader Kennedi Milton is poised to make some noise. A few other golfers to keep an eye on are seventh grader Ayla Roberts, eighth grader Mollie Fiorella, and freshman Allison Wiggins.
Head coach Jonas Billingsley and his team have their eyes set on a fourth consecutive regional title, reaching the State finals, and finishing in the top three in the State Championship.
McLean County: The Lady Cougars have one athlete this year in Emmy Scott. A dual sport athlete, she is new to golf and has been learning the fundamentals.
Owensboro: A relatively young, but experienced roster, the Lady Devils are led by sophomore Ryann Kasey, who just missed the cutoff to advance to the state tournament a year ago. Joining her are eighth grader Eva Carter, freshman Hampton Gaddis, fellow sophomores Olive Harrison, Kinsley Hayden, and Avery Martin, and seniors Ellison Storm and Macy Critchelow.
The Lady Devils return their entire roster from last year and have added three newcomers in sophomores Stella Hayden and Railey Scott, and freshman Haley Edge.
Head coach Bryan Casey wants to see his young roster improve and develop throughout the year as they build a long-term team culture.
“It is a slow grinding process, hard to rush, and will take extreme amounts of personal dedication and effort from each of the players, both during the season and during the off-season,”. If they want to be good at golf, and even then, your forever chasing perfection. But I like where we are, and this is a great group of girls and fun to be around.”
Owensboro Catholic: The Lady Aces enter the season with a brand-new head coach in Easten Henry, who is thrilled for the opportunity. Three years ago, Henry joined the Aces wrestling team as an assistant coach before becoming Mark Price’s assistant on the boys’ golf team in 2024.
“Without getting emotional about it, it is a big deal to me to become head coach. I love it so much and I really want to impact people’s lives. I had an opportunity to do this with high school girls, and having a daughter of my own that I hope I can coach someday.”
The Lady Aces are led by seniors Ava Settles and Addie-Belle Rutman and junior Emma Lanham and are awaiting the return of Hannah Robbins, who is currently sidelined with an injury. Behind them are a plethora of middle schoolers and underclassmen.
“I want to see the team be a family by the end of the year,” Henry said. “It really matters to me that we are close, that they care for each other, and that they stay friends their entire life.’
Trinity (Whitesville): The Lady Raiders only have one athlete this year in sophomore Rylee Hayden. Last year she qualified for the All-A state classic and is expected to take the next stpe in her young high school golf career.
