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Nevada High golf team places fourth at Joplin Invitational
JOPLIN, Mo. — In their second event of the season, the Nevada Tigers placed fourth at the 10-team Joplin Invitational — Thursday at Twin Hill Golf and Country Club.
Ozark H.S. took the top prize, tallying a team score of 362. Webb City finished seven strokes back of Ozark to slot into the runner-up spot. Carthage edged Nevada by a stroke for the third-place finish, carding 374 to Nevada’s 375.
“I was very pleased with our fourth-place team finish,” said veteran NHS golf coach Brian Leonard. “We were only six strokes back of second-place. Those six strokes can be eliminated throughout the season, with continued practice and more mental concentration.”
Battling cold early morning temperatures and stiff 15-20 mile per hour winds, Nevada junior Bronson Smith carded the Tigers’ low individual score, a 14-over-par 86.
In navigating the tough Twin Hills layout, Leonard said Smith’s 86 was definitely a “respectable” final score en route to an individual third-place finish. Leonard, however, noted that Smith struggled with his driver.
“Bronson carded two double-bogies and a quadruple-bogey, which caused his score to be a little higher than he would have liked,” said Leonard, adding, “I know he is determined to eliminate these little mistakes. With his tenacity and hard work, I am positive these issues can, and will be resolved and eliminated.”
Smith’s fellow junior teammate Carter Swearingen, carded an 89, good for a fifth-place individual finish.
“Carter had a good day,” said Leonard. “Our goal is to get him in the mid-to-low 80's.”
Nevada senior Jonathan Portwood slotted into a tie for 18th-place, with a final score of 27-over-par 97.
“I was very pleased with Jonathan’s score,” said Leonard. “Twin Hills can be a very tough golf course, so his 97 was a respectable score on this tough layout. We are working on getting Jonathan’s score down in the low 90’s or upper 80’s.”
Nevada junior Matt Thompson carded a 103, placing him in a tie for 33rd.
“Matt is still struggling with consistency throughout the course,” said Leonard of Thompson, who is in his first season competing at the varsity prep-level. “As the season continues, hopefully he can play more on the weekends and work on his short game/putting — and improve his consistency of keeping the ball in play.”
Nevada’s scorecard was rounded out by Jordan Peckman’s 122, placing him 51st; and Pierson Dennison’s 133 (55th-place). Placing first individually was Carl Junction’s Tyler Markham, with a six-over-par 78.
Team scores
• Ozark, 362; Webb City, 369; Carthage, 374; Nevada, 375; Carl Junction, 376; Mount Vernon, 380; Joplin, 384; Seneca, 425; Neosho, 429; McDonald County, 468.
— UP NEXT —
The Joplin Golf Foundation Tournament, held at the Schifferdecker Golf Course.
Tee times are slated for 8:30 a.m., Monday.
Editor’s Note: The top 10 finishers from the event earn an automatic spot on Joplin’s (junior) Horton Smith team, which is set to compete this summer. Four members from last year’s Nevada golf team made the top 10 cut.
2017 rewind
Nevada dominated the 2017 Joplin Golf Foundation-Horton Smith Tournament at Schifferdecker Golf Course — winning by 28 strokes, with a team score of 294.
Nevada then-senior John Quitno placed first individually, firing a 1-under-par 70, while fellow Tiger senior Jacob Hammontree slotted into second place with a 2-over-par 73. Completing the NHS senior trio, Patrick Ferry tied for fourth, carding a 4-over 75. Nevada (then) sophomore Bronson Smith concluded play tied for sixth-place — with a 5-over-par 76.