No golf season? No problem
Campbell becomes KHS boys’ 14th All-State golfer despite cancellation
KINGFISHER GOLF coach Chris Combs watches as Colby Campbell tees off during the KHS Invitational in 2019. Campbell was named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State team earlier this week. [KT&FP Staff Photo]
Colby Campbell
Colby Campbell had a goal entering his senior season of golf.
He wanted to add to Kingfisher High School’s rich tradition as its latest golfer to earn All-State status.
A huge kink was put in those plans when the OSSAA voted in April to cancel the entire spring sports season.
That meant no golf for Campbell and thousands of other athletes in Oklahoma who missed out on their final season of competition.
“I was really excited for this golf season being that it was my senior year,” Campbell said. “I spent many hours practicing and when I was told it was over, it felt like it was all for nothing.”
The news he received on Monday helped.
Campbell was one of the select few golfers in the state to be named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State team.
“I was super excited to be chosen,” he said. “And I was very shocked when I got the news due to the season having been canceled.”
Campbell was voted to the West team by a com mittee of coaches. Twelve golfers - regardless of class - are voted to each the West and East squads.
He’s the 14th male golfer from KHS to earn All-State honors.
“I was really proud that he made it,” KHS boys golf coach Chris Combs said. “It was well-deserving.”
Campbell was as consistent as any KHS golfer during his three years of competition.
He had numerous topfive and top-10 finishes, including winning the Hennessey Invitational as a sophomore.
Other highlights include a runner-up finish at Hennessey the following year, finishing third in the regional qualifier in 2018 and top-10 finishes last season at Kingfisher’s tournament and the 3A regional.
Campbell finished 21st in the Class 3A tournament last season and was also in the top-20 in the Bluejay Bash, a 36-hole tournament featuring mostly largeschool teams.
He earned all-conference honors twice. Kingfisher would have
Kingfisher would have competed in Class 4A this season.
“Other coaches on the committee had him really high in Class 4A,” Combs said. “I really thought he was primed to have a great year.”
That was Campbell’s plan.
“Making All-State was actually my goal coming into the year,” he said. “So even though I didn’t get to play this season, it’s a great way to end it.”