LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Weeks after claiming the 109th Kentucky Amateur Championship and qualifying for the 123rd U.S. Amateur, EKU men's golf head coach Justin Tereshko wins the 104th Kentucky Open by nine strokes on Thursday afternoon at Persimmon Ridge Golf Club.
 
The 104th Kentucky Open presented by Persimmon Ridge set out to identify the top male golfer in the State of Kentucky. The field for the event consisted of 156 competitors ranging from amateurs to professionals throughout the state.
 
Tereshko battled in the first round on Tuesday shooting a 65 (-7), falling just short of the individual lead to Fred Meyer, former University of Kentucky golfer, by one stroke. Tereshko went 3-under through his first three holes. After a stellar back-9, consisting of a birdie, an eagle, and a 5-hole birdie stretch on holes 11-15, he ended the round 7-under.
 
EKU's coach re-claimed the lead in the second round, again shooting a 65 (-7) for a total of 130 (-14) and atop the leaderboard by four strokes. Tereshko did not lose a single shot in Wednesday's round, making seven birdies and 11 pars. Justin was one of 73 players from the field to make the cut for the final round.
 
On Thursday, Tereshko opened the round with an eagle on the third hole, he would go on to par five of his next six holes to 1-under. On the back nine, Tereshko birdied seven holes and scored eagle on two to claim the 104th Kentucky Open.
 
EKU's skipper ended the three-day event with a 200 (65-65-70) and 16 strokes below par, nine shots above second place Dustin Denzik. 
 
With Thursday's victory at Persimmon Ridge Golf Club, Tereshko becomes the first amateur to win the Kentucky Open in seven years. 
 
Only 18 amateurs have won the event since 1920, Tereshko joins PGA greats J.B. Holmes, Steve Flesch, Ted Schulz, Jodie Mudd, Larry Gilbert, and Gay Brewer as Kentucky Open Champions in its long 103-year history.
 
Tereshko is set to compete in the 123rd U.S. Amateur from August 16-20 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Colorado. All five days of the event are scheduled to be aired on national television, available on the Golf Channel, Peacock, and NBC. 
 
Tickets to see Justin in the U.S. Am are also available for purchase starting at just $25 at usamateur.com/2023.