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Lady Tigers place sixth at Big 8 golf tourney
Marshfield — With their season quickly winding down, the Nevada Lady Tiger golf team hit the links for Monday’s Big 8 Conference Tournament, placing sixth at the nine-team event held at Marshfield Golf Course.
Springfield Catholic dominated, carding a team-total 295, and winning by 47 strokes. Rounding out the top three were Logan-Rogersville and McDonald County.
Three of the top four individual performances were carded by Springfield Catholic, which included Reagan Zibilski’s first-place 5-under-par 64, and Kayla Pfitzner’s runner-up 1-under-par 68.
The Lady Tigers were led by Grace Palmer, as the senior standout fired a 12-over-par 81 en route to a sixth-place finish. Palmer tallied a 40 on the front-nine, and 41 on the back-nine.
Continuing her recent red-hot play, the 18-hole 81 was Palmer’s career best score, according to Nevada head golf coach Brian Leonard.
“Grace was a little wild off the tee today, and wasn’t keeping it in the fairway consistently,” recounted Leonard. “But she was making some good approach shots.”
Continued Leonard: “She was struggling a little bit the first several holes, three-putting. But then she kind of got the speed of the greens down. She started chipping a little closer, and was then able to get up-and-down from the edge of the green to get her pars and bogies. And it was just nice to see her have such a good round.”
Concluded Leonard: “She was having fun out there, I will tell you that.”
The veteran coach added that Palmer’s singular focus is qualifying for the state tournament.
“She wants to qualify again,” he said, as Palmer previously punched a ticket to last year’s state tourney.
Nevada’s team scorecard (447) was rounded out by Kaitlynn Vincent’s 38-over-par 107, Libby Barrett’s 48-over-par 117; and Katie Pennington’s 58-over-par 127.
Leonard said he was pleased with the performance of his squad.
“I think Kaitlynn’s score was the best she shot in a long time,” said Leonard of the 107. “It may even be her best score ever.”
Barrett, a freshman, has steadily improved as the season has progressed.
“I do know the (117) was Libby’s best score ever,” said an elated Leonard. “She was very pleased with her score, and I was too. She was hitting the ball good, she was scoring good.”
Added Leonard of Pennington: “We’re trying to get her more consistent. She’s improving every time out.”
TEAM SCORES
• Springfield Catholic, 295; Logan-Rogersville, 341; McDonald County, 397; Mount Vernon, 401, Marshfield, 419; Nevada, 432; Hollister, 447; Seneca, 460.
NEVADA LADY TIGER INVITATIONAL
Nevada’s previous outing came Friday at the 14th annual Nevada Lady Tiger Invitational, as the hosts placed seventh at the eight-team event held at Frank E. Peters Municipal Golf Course.
Carthage won the team competition, carding a 338, while Carl Junction (393) placed runner-up, edging out Webb City by a stroke.
For a third consecutive year Jenna Teeter claimed the individual crown, as the Webb City product recorded a final score 2-over-par 74.
Carthage, meanwhile, netted four of the top six scores, highlighted by Hailey Bryant’s second-place 7-over-par 79. Bryant’s teammates Rylee Scott (84), Naomi Rehrer (85), and Sara Golden (90) also finished high on the leaderboard.
Nevada’s top score, was again, achieved by Palmer, an 18-over-par 90. Palmer placed seventh among the field of 49 competitors.
Nevada’s remaining scores included Vincent’s 114, Pennington’s 132, and Barrett’s 141, as the Lady Tigers tallied a team score of 447.
“We were lucky to even get the invitational in, due to the fact the weather was supposed to be wet,” said Leonard. “We’re so used to playing in the 95 degree weather, so it was nice to be out here in this 75 degree weather. I was very pleased with the outcome of the tournament, great timing.”
Added Leonard: “I was very pleased with Grace’s score, placing her in the top 10. She was getting off the tee really well, striking those tee shots. And now we have to work on course-management, and a little bit of the mental aspect of the game. She’s hitting the ball good, now, it’s just making herself realize that she’s hitting the ball good. We’re going to work on getting her distances on her irons, and that will help a lot.”
Said Leonard: “Kaitlynn came in with a 114, and we’re looking to get that down to maybe 112 or 110, and that might qualify her for the sectionals.”
Leonard added that he was impressed with the play of three-time Lady Tiger Invitational champion Teeter.
“She’s just very consistent,” he said. “I’ve watched her the past three years, she’s just very meticulous, and just fun to watch. She has a good golf career ahead of her.”
Up next
While the Big 8 Tournament is technically considered a postseason event, the Lady Tigers still have one match remaining on their regular-season slate — as they welcome in Butler, Stockton, and McDonald County on Thursday for a home match.
Leonard’s club then officially embarks on postseason play, with Monday’s district tournament to be held at the Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course in Springfield.
‘The Bill and Payne Stewart golf course is very comparable to our city course — Frank E. Peters,” said Leonard.
See a future edition of the Daily Mail for all the latest on Nevada Lady Tiger golf