Golf grabs third at conference tourney

Nevada golf placed third at the Southwest Conference Tournament Tuesday at Briarbrook Country Club in Webb City, Mo.

The Tigers were led this time by Zach Braucher who shot a sixth-place 79 and missed all-conference honors by one stroke after placing second on the team during the regular season. Tyler Gast, who typically set the pace for Nevada, shot an 80, good for seventh place.

Head coach Brian Leonard said he thinks the Southwest Conference is one of the most competitive in the state and is happy with the third-place showing.

"The coaches and I were talking while we were playing and basically it was a three-horse race: us, Carthage and Neosho," Leonard said. "It depended on what their four and five guys came in with. But I was very pleased with it."

Leonard said the bottom end of his varsity lineup is close to breaking through but can't seem to string two quality nine-hole rounds together. He said it's a matter of time before one of them breaks through, and that time needs to be at district.

"I told the boys, we need to get that big number knocked off and we'll be OK for Thursday. We're probably looking 80 to 82 will get them in. Probably 82, I'd say. All three of them could. They're all capable of shooting it."

The district tournament is also at Briarbrook Country Club at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, May 1.