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NHS golf team earns trip to state tournament
For the second time in three years, the Nevada High School golf team is headed to the Missouri Class 3 State Golf Championship.
The Tigers punched their ticket to the state golf tournament with a second place finish at Tuesday's Class 3 Section 4 Golf Tournament at Liberty Hills Country Club. The top two-teams at the six-team tournament earned an automatic bid to state, as Nevada finished runner-up to Pembroke Hill.
The second-place finish wasn't a sure thing until the final putt fell into the cup, as the Tigers edged out Warrensburg for second-place. Nevada senior Levi Palmer encountered a major scare on the par-4 18th hole, after pulling a shot left of the fairway, onto the cart-path, and into knee-high rough.
After using a 54-degree wedge to punch out of the rough and onto the fringe of the green ---- Palmer then proceeded to drain a 20-foot chip-shot, saving par and securing the second-place team finish.
Veteran Nevada golf coach Brian Leonard, called it one of the most memorable shots he has witnessed during his coaching career.
"The pressure was on him," Leonard said. "Levi missed going to state last year by just two strokes, and was really stressing about this tournament. It was a heck of a chip out of the tall grass."
Due to heavy rainfall Monday, Leonard said the course played "tough."
"We played the ball 'down,'" he said. "Several of the kids got into divots and had to fight through it. It was also a very tight fairway course. If you went left or right off any fairway, you were probably going to be stuck in the rough or behind some trees."
Leonard said the weather fully cooperated Tuesday.
"It was a beautiful day," he said, "one of the best we've had all year for a tournament."
For Nevada, junior John Quitno finished in fourth-place, with a 7-over-par 77, while Jacob Hammontree placed fifth with an identical score. Palmer carded an 82, good for 17th-place, while Patrick Ferry placed 31st with a score of 91.
Nevada freshman Bronson Smith had a solid showing, placing 35th after firing a 93. Smith is the only team-member of the five not to have competed in a state tournament.
"It will be an experience that Bronson hopefully never forgets," Leonard said, "getting up there on the first tee-box and having your name announced. As a high school golfer this is what you strive for."
Pembroke Hill's William Esrey won the tournament by three strokes, finishing 2-over-par 72.
Team scores
1) Pembroke Hill: 306
2) Nevada: 327
3) Warrensburg: 330
4) Smithville: 331
5) Pleasant Hill: 341
6) Harrisonville: 402
Up next
The Tigers dream season continues with a trip to the Missouri Class 3 State Golf Championship, May 16-17 at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield.