From Down Under to Eastern Kentucky
The Rise of Slice Pennington
From Down Under to Eastern Kentucky: The Rise of Slice Pennington
Player Spotlight – The Kentucky Golf Journal
You don’t earn a name like Slice Pennington without a bit of flair—and perhaps a few crooked fairways early in your career. But make no mistake: Slice is no wild-swinging amateur. He’s a shot-shaping savant, a master craftsman of the golf course, and now a serious contender in The Commonwealth Cup.
Forged in the Winds of the Outback
Hailing originally from the rugged coasts of Australia, Pennington cut his teeth golfing through howling winds, unpredictable terrain, and kangaroo-crossed fairways. As he tells it, "You either learned to curve the ball or you learned to fish. And I never liked fish that much."
That early need to control trajectory and spin in wild conditions created a player who doesn’t just play golf—he paints with it. "Slice doesn’t hit shots," says Cup co-commissioner Ty Webb, "he sculpts them. It’s like watching Michelangelo with a 7-iron."
From Bellfonte to the Big Time
Now residing in Ashland, Kentucky, Slice has made the Bluegrass his second home. His regular stomping grounds are the lush fairways of Bellfonte Country Club, where his buttery draws and high fades have become the stuff of local legend.
Rumor has it he’s next-door neighbors with one of Tyler Childers’ bandmates, and on quiet evenings you might catch him chipping in his backyard while Appalachian fiddle tunes drift across the hills.
Cup Contender
In Week 3 of The Commonwealth Cup, Pennington claimed his first event win at the Feeder’s Supply Shootout, carding a scorching 6-under, including six birdies and an eagle in just the first eight holes of Round 1. That win catapulted him into a tie for first in the overall Cup standings, deadlocked with Max Irons at 20 points each.
"Slice doesn’t flinch," said co-commissioner Hook Wright. "Wind, pressure, bad lies—he just sees solutions. He’s the MacGyver of the fairway."
Quiet Fire
Off the course, Slice is known for his easy laugh, strong coffee, and borderline obsession with custom headcovers. “He’s got a headcover that looks like a wombat,” joked Webb. “It’s terrifying. But oddly comforting.”
What’s Next?
With momentum and mystique building, all eyes are on Slice as The Commonwealth Cup enters its fourth week. Can the Aussie artist keep the canvas clean and the score low?
One thing’s certain—wherever there’s wind, trees, and trouble, Slice Pennington will be there, shaping shots like only he can.
Stay tuned, Kentucky. This one's just heating up.