Laney: Sheep, Ducks, a Pig & Many Birdies
- Scholar Athlete of the Month: Laney Frye
- School: Lexington Christian Academy / GRADE: 12
- SPORT: Golf
- Academics: Laney has a 4.37 weighted GPA, scored 33 on the ACT, has taken four A.P. classes and will play next year on scholarship at UK.
- Parents: Kelly & B
When you live on a farm next to a golf course like 17-year-old Laney Frye, it’s not surprising that your two biggest passions are golf and farm animals.
And Laney, a senior at Lexington Christian Academy and two-time Miss Kentucky Golf, does her best to combine the two as often as possible.
Take the time when she was a freshman playing in the All-A state tournament in Somerset.
As she approached the 18th hole with the lead, her father, LCA golf Coach B Frye, challenged her. (His name is William but everyone calls him B.)
“Birdie this hole and I’ll get you a mini-pig,” he told his daughter.
That may be the first time those words have been spoken as motivation in a golf tournament.
It must have worked because Laney stared down a 10-foot putt for birdie, drained it and won her first high school tournament.
The victory came on the birthday of golf legend Arnold Palmer, so you can guess the name of the pig. Arnold was welcomed into the Frye family.
Along with tournament titles, Laney also collects pets, including sheep, goats, a mini mule, chickens and, more traditionally, dogs.
She also raises ducks. With eggs that arrive from California, she incubates them under a heat lamp in her basement. Once hatched, the ducks take up residence in the barn.
With all that farm work, Laney still found time to dominate girls high school golf in Kentucky.
She has played on the LCA varsity since sixth grade and won 17 high school tournaments – including 12 the past two seasons.
Highlights include shooting a course-record 62 (62!) at Lassing Pointe Golf Course in Union, Ky., carding a 66 at the University Club at Arlington in Richmond, and leading LCA to back-to-back state titles in 2018 and 2019.
She won the individual state title as a junior and was leading the tournament after the first round this year before settling for second place.
Her secret? Talent, hard work and nerves of steel.
“She doesn’t get scared,” her father said. “She loves the chance to do something great.”
Said Laney: “My dad says I can rise to the occasion and force birdies.”
Laney, who will play golf next year on scholarship at UK, excels in the classroom. She has 4.37 weighted GPA, scored 33 on the ACT and has taken four A.P. classes.
Deeply religious, she mixes golf with her faith on the course.
“We pray for our teammates during a round,” she said. “We have a lot of gratitude and keep things in perspective.
“I like being in nature on the golf course. You can talk to God out there.”
Scholar Athlete Scholarship: $3,000
Two Scholar Athletes a year will be picked at random to share the $3,000 Darrell B. Pulliam Memorial Scholarship provided by Mike Pulliam, a Rector Hayden Realtor and instructor at Man O’ War Golf. Other contributors are Barry and Mike Barrett of Auto Excel, local accountant Kenny Frank, Bethany Smith of Smith CPA & Associates PLLC, Howard Smith of Smith Garage Equipment, and Dairy Queen franchise owner Paul Wright.
Call or e-mail us with your Scholar Athlete nominations, or click here to fill out a Nomination Form.
(859) 494-1140 / john@lexingtonfamily.com