Harlan County's Cole Cornett Shines on Golf Course; Qualifies for Next Week's State Tourney
By Bill Templeton
Contributing Writer
A member of the Harlan County varsity golf team since he was a seventh-grader, senior Cole Cornett has officially matured into one of the state's top high school players.
Cornett traveled Monday to StoneCrest Golf Club in Prestonburg where he competed in his second consecutive semi-state event and got his second chance to earn a berth in the Kentucky state tournament next week in Bowling Green.
Mission accomplished.
After missing out on qualifying for the state tournament last year by a single stroke, Cornett overcame a lackluster putting performance on the front nine Monday and finished with a 4-over-par round of 74 to become just the second HC golfer to qualify for the KHSAA Boys’ State Golf Championship. Former standout Brayden Casolari qualified for the state tournament in both 2022 and 2024.
"I’m really proud of the way he battled," first-year coach Jared Sizemore said. "To become just the second golfer in Harlan County (High School) history to qualify for the state tournament is a huge accomplishment, and I think that speaks volumes about Cole and the kind of golfer he is."
The 36-hole state tournament will be staged at Bowling Green Country Club and Cornett confirmed that qualifying for the event is the realization of his dreams.
“Semi-state is always a goal, as it’s the step towards the main state event,” Cornett said, "but to make it to state (is) a dream-come-true. It’s the main goal for every golfer in the state.
"I’m really proud to be able to represent Harlan County at state and hopefully shoot some good numbers."
It’s been quite a senior season for Cornett, who achieved two of his most significant individual achievements at Wasioto Winds Course in Pineville.
Cornett won the 2A Section 7 championship at Wasioto Winds in August with a round of 73 to qualify for the 2A State Tournament. He shot 75 in that tournament to finish tied for seventh in a field of 60 golfers at Owensboro Country Club.
Cornett returned to Wasioto Winds earlier this month to win his second consecutive Pine Mountain Golf Conference Player of the Year award with a two-day total of 67, while also leading his Harlan County team to the conference tournament championship.
On the heels of a 2-over-par round of 73 that produced a runner-up finish earlier this month at the 10th Region tournament in Somerset and a berth in the semi-state round, Cornett achieved his ultimate goal with the solid round Monday in Prestonburg.
“I set some goals early before the season and one of the main goals was to make it to 2A,” Cornett said. “I also set a goal of not shooting over par in a single conference match and I accomplished that. Just to have certain goals in mind always gives me something to grind for and set my mind to.”
Two solid early showings in tournaments jump-started Cornett's senior season.
A full field of regional teams at the South Laurel Invitational at London Country Club resulted in a fourth-place finish and a round of 75 for Cornett. He also finished fourth overall at the Farmers and Miners Tournament at Cedar Hill Country Club in Jonesville, Va., where he posted a 71.
“Those are two really strong tournament rounds, and I think they show the level of golf he’s capable of playing and his ability to compete against strong fields,” Sizemore said.
Sizemore continues to marvel at Cornett’s mindset on the course and his approach to playing in tournaments.
“When it comes to tournaments, Cole gets completely locked in,” Sizemore said. “There are times during a round when I’ll ask him how he’s doing, and I’m lucky to get more than a one-word answer. It’s usually either ‘good’ or ‘not good.’ That’s just Cole.
“Once the tournament starts, he’s focused on playing golf and competing. He takes every tournament seriously and wants to put himself in a position to compete every time he steps on the course.”
As with other successful competitive golfers, Cornett is dedicated to practice and was quick to mention the importance of executing on the golf course from inside 100 yards. He also mentioned the importance of a solid mental approach to the game.
“I always try to keep my practice routine very simple during the season,” Cornett said. “I try to just hit balls at least two times a week, since we play so much during the season anyway. I never try to change anything major and always just trust the basics.
“The major component of scoring is always the short game. My dad has made sure I’ve known that since I started playing. Every time I go to practice I always make sure to hit tons of shots inside 100 yards.
“To me, one of the best ways to prepare for anything in golf is the mindset. To know what you’re facing and what you have to do is the most important thing in this sport.”
Sizemore also mentioned Cornett’s commitment to practice.
“Cole is one of those kids who puts a lot of time into his game. He practices almost every day,” Sizemore said. “More than anything, his season is a reflection of how much work he’s put into his game. You don’t get these kinds of results by accident.
“He practices nearly every day, he’s competed well against strong fields, and he’s shown throughout the season that he can post good numbers under pressure. He’s put together a senior season that he should be extremely proud of.”
With a berth in next week’s state tournament secured, Sizemore noted that Cornett’s putting and iron-play at Bowling Green CC will go a long way in determining his eventual finish.
“I think Cole’s biggest strengths are his consistency off the tee and his course management,” Sizemore said. “He does a really good job of keeping the ball in play and understanding where he needs to hit it to put himself in position to score.
“The biggest things for him to tighten up are eliminating three-putts and getting his approach shots closer to the hole. He gives himself a lot of opportunities because of how consistent he is off the tee, so if he can get those approach shots a little closer and avoid giving strokes away on the greens, that can be the difference between shooting a solid number and shooting a really low number.”
Shooting low numbers is literally in Cornett’s blood. His father, Pete Cornett, played four years of college golf at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia and has served his son as a coach, teacher and frequent playing partner.
The younger Cornett mentioned this year being the first year that rounds together with his father have “been very competitive every time we’ve gotten to play,” and he fondly recalls the first time he finished a round with the lower score.
“I will always remember the first time I beat him,” Cole Cornett said. “We were at a tournament in Paducah, when he played, in his words, ‘the worst round of my life’ and shot 81. I ended up making birdie on 18 to shoot 80. This was going into my freshman year four years ago. I will say, I think he was still more proud than upset.”
The elder Cornett expressed deserved pride in his talented son.
“I’m just very proud of him and his determination to get better each year,” Pete Cornett said. “He worked hard in the offseason and was determined to be one of the best players in the region this year.
“I hope he follows in my footsteps and goes to college on a golf scholarship. I do believe he can be a successful college golfer and continue to get better.”
Cole Cornett said he has his sights set on playing college golf and is keeping his options open.
“I hope to continue my career in golf and play at the next level,” he said. “I have been in contact with a couple of coaches and really hope to continue playing.”
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