Traditional Bank Athlete of the Week: Frankfort’s Denton is a force for FHS golf team
Published 6:23 pm Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Frankfort High senior Carter Denton continues to be a force for the FHS boys golf team.
New Athlete of the Week logo
He’s been medalist in all five Central Kentucky Bluegrass Conference matches the Panthers have played this season, and he’s won one tournament, shooting a 68 to win the Pikeville Invitational at Stonecrest Golf Course in Prestonsburg.
Denton has been named the Traditional Bank Athlete of the Week.
The 68 in the Pikeville Invitational is Denton’s low 18-hole score this season. He’s shot under par in three other 18-hole tournaments. He posted a 69 to finish fifth in the Bronco Classic at Kearney Hill, and he shot 70 at both the Model Boys Invitational at the University Club at Arlington in Richmond and the Bearcat Invitational at Wild Turkey in Lawrenceburg. He tied for fourth at the Bearcat Invitational and third at the Model tournament.
His low score for a nine-hole match has been a 32 shot at Tates Creek in a conference match against Sayre.
Denton and teammate Josh Tandy will play in the All “A” state tournament Saturday at Gibson Bay in Richmond.
Frankfort’s Carter Denton is the Traditional Bank Athlete of the Week. (Photo submitted)
Denton is the son of David and Lori Denton.
State Journal: What expectations did you have for this season?
Denton: My goal for the 2025 boys high school golf season was to accumulate enough Kentucky All-State points to make the 2025 All-State Tournament. The Kentucky All-State tournament features the top 15 teams and 21 individual players based on points earned throughout the season through consistent performance. I am currently on track to make it as an individual, but won’t know until Sept. 8.
SJ: Do you feel any pressure when you play, and how do you handle it?
Denton: I do feel pressure to show up and post a good score, but the best way to handle it is preparing well for each event.
SJ: When you first started playing golf when you were 5, did you take to it right away? What kept you playing at a young age?
Denton: I did have success as a junior golfer from the start, which got me going down this road. I continued to get better every year. With much support from my family and good coaching along the way I have been able to win or place in many junior tour events over the years with notable wins being the Kentucky PGA Tour Lexington City Junior Championship at Kearney and the Hurricane Tour College Prep Series at The Cardinal Club. I have been on the Frankfort High School boys golf team since seventh grade. I have won the Hilen Cup twice and made the Hilen Cup all-tournament team since seventh grade. I have qualified for the All “A” State Tournament three times and advanced out of Region 9 twice for the overall Kentucky State Tournament. I have won the Frankfort City Junior Championship and Frankfort Country Club Junior Championship multiple times. It has been a lot of fun.
SJ: How much golf do you play in the offseason?
Denton: High school golf is only about three months, so the most important time in golf is the other nine months. I have been playing on junior golf tours (Junior PGA Tour, Golfweek Junior Golf Tour, Hurricane Junior Golf Tour) since I was 6 years old. The junior golf tours are what grow you as a player and prepare you for high school golf. There is a national ranking system for junior golf with tournaments having to meet certain qualifications to qualify for ranking (must be two-day tournament for example). Below (in an email) is a screenshot of my Junior Golf Scoreboard national ranking showing I am ranked 22nd in Kentucky for the class of 2026. I have played in nine nationally ranked tournaments in the last year with notable finishes being at the Kentucky PGA Junior Fall Cities at Seneca Golf Course in Louisville where I tied for fourth. This summer I also finished sixth at the Kentucky PGA Northern Kentucky Junior Championship as seen in screenshot below.
My success in high school golf is due to all the work put in the other nine months.
SJ: What are your plans after graduation?
Denton: I plan to attend college to get my degree in business and play college golf. I will never forget the great memories formed with my Frankfort High team and all we accomplished together.
