Campbellsville Country Club’s favorite son, J. B. Holmes, entered 2006 as one the newest members of the PGA Tour after winning the PGA Tour’s Qualifying School in dramatic fashion.  J. B. became the first player in 22 years to come directly out of college and advance through all three stages of the qualifying school and win the final stage of qualifying school.  In earning medalist honors, J. B. was the only player in the field to shoot in the 60’s all six days winning by three shots in route to firing a score of 24 under par (69-69-68-67-66-69).  It should be noted however that this Cinderella beginning to J. B.‘s pro career had a much earlier Cinderella beginning starting at a very early age.

J. B. Holmes was born April 28, 1982 in Campbellsville, Ketucky and early signs were indications of things to come as his first word was “ball”.  J.B. received his first golf clubs, plastic head, wooden shaft and plastic ball, at less than two years of age and his first swing was remarkably good for a child that age.  Soon afterwards J.B. progressed to a cut down wood and iron where he would play in his front yard hitting balls for hours.  By the time he was three or four J. B. was accompanying his father to Campbellsville Country Club to play golf along with some side diversions to hunt for golf balls and fun games of putting on the practice green.  J. B.’s official entry into organized golf came in the third grade when he was allowed by Taylor County High School’s golf coach, David Parson, to try out for the high school golf team.  He not only made the team but played 5^th man on a team that was Regional Runner-up.  At about this time other junior golfers at Campbellsville Country Club began playing and the boys would spend many days during the summer playing 36 to 54 holes.  The group was affectionately named the “midgets” by Coach Parson and those young men along with J. B. who became outstanding golfers were Brandon Parson, Blake Jessie, Kyle Judd, Jared Hines and Austin Newton.  All of these young men shared friendship and strong competition that helped each improve and progress their golf skills and each help improve and promote the junior golf program at Campbellsville Country Club and junior golf in Kentucky.

J.B.’s high school career blossomed and by the 8^th grade he won his first high school tournament medalist honors and went on to be honored as the second 8^th grader to be named to the Kentucky High School’s First Team All-State Golf Team.  His high school career included many tournament medalist honors including an individual state championship title and being named as Kentucky’s Mr. Golf in his sophomore year.  J. B.’s high school career included two National Coaches Association National High School Golf Championships individual Medalist honors and one runner –up.  He was named All-American four times by the National Golf Coaches Association and in 2002 was named National Player of the Year by that organization.  Holmes was also the first player in the state of Kentucky to be named First Team All-State four times.  During this time J.B. was also well recognize on the state junior golf level as he captured many junior events and player of the year honors on the Baker-Geary-Dunne Junior tour and also was named Kentucky Golf Association Junior Player of the Year. 

In the fall of 2001 J.B. entered the University of Kentucky to play golf for newly named head coach, Brian Craig.  Under the guidance of Coach Craig, J.B.’s game was taken to the next level as during his freshman year he won two individual medalist honors and was named First Team All-Sec, Ping Third Team All-American, Softspikes All Freshman team which names the top five freshman golfers in the country and qualified as an individual for the NCAA Regional.  The following year Holmes and the UK team continuously improved and qualified for the NCAA National Championships, a first for UK since 1989. In his junior year J. B. and his UK teammates captured the Regional title, both team and individual and then placing 7^th in the National Championships.  In his final season the UK team set school history by winning its first Southeastern Conference title in UK’s history along with an 8^th place showing in the national championships. J.B. ended his career at UK with 4 All SEC honors (three 1st teams and one 2^nd team), four All-American honors (one 1^st team, one 2^nd  team, one 3^rd team and one honorable mention), and he was also named to the Palmer Cup which is a Ryder Cup format competition of the top eight American college golfers against the top eight college golfer from Europe which the Americans won.  During his college years J. B. also captured two Kentucky State Amateur Championships, two Kentucky State Open Championships, in 2002, 2003, and 2004 the Kentucky Golf Association’s Player of the Year, qualified for the 2003 U.S. Open Championship and several top tens in nationally recognized amateur events including medalist honors at the 2003 United State Amateur.  The highlight of J.B.’s amateur career came in the summer of 2005 when he became only the second player from Kentucky to be named to the prestigious United States Walker Cup and helped the United States captured the title from the Europeans.

From humble beginnings at Campbellsville Country Club J.B. Holmes’ career has blossomed and in the process has helped promote junior golf in the area and state, helped the University Kentucky golf team become a nationally respected program a tradition which continues, and helps bring recognition to Kentucky and the Campbellsville area and all the people involved through the years which were so instrumental in the success of this young man.