Menu
Tiger golfers smoke El Do, Butler
NEVADA, Mo. -- Playing their first home competition of the season, the Nevada Tiger golf team worked over El Dorado Springs and Butler in a triangular at Frank E. Peters Municipal Golf Course Tuesday.
Playing on the front nine, Nevada shot a four-person total of 168, topping Butler by 19 strokes and El Do by 31.
"It's the lowest score I've had for a team I've coached," Nevada head coach Brian Leonard said.
Two Nevada players tied for the lowest individual score in the round, as freshman Tyler Gast and senior Justin Crooks each carded four-over-par 40.
"I figured Gast was going to be there, but Crooks stepped up his game," Leonard said. "Any time we shoot in the 160s, we're going to be competitive in a dual."
Sophomore Zach Braucher was right behind them with a 41, and junior Sam Moore shot 47 to complete the team score. Freshman Kenny Hill was the other varsity golfer playing, and he shot a respectable 48.
Tying Gast and Crooks for individual honors with a 40 was Dereck Palmer of El Dorado Springs, but the Bulldogs only had one other golfer break 50 in Michael McCormick.
Butler also has two players come in under 50 with Morgan Hough and Corbin Umstattd each shooting 42.
The weather was nice, with only a slight breeze and plenty of sunshine. While it might seem that Nevada used the home course to their advantage, Leonard said it wasn't as big an edge as most would think.
"We haven't been playing the front nine," Leonard said. "We usually practice on the back (nine)."
Each team also had their junior varsity playing the course with Nevada also taking that match.
The Tiger JV shot 195, led by David Cavener's 45. In fact, the JV would have beaten the El Dorado Springs varsity by four shots.
Kyle Ledbetter shot 48, while Brandon Davis and Mark Cutshaw each finished at 51. Matt Mock was the final JV player, shooting a 53.
Butler's JV shot 225, while El Do was at 230.
Leonard said that if Cavener can continue with his strong play, he'll force his way onto the varsity squad.
"Next week's top five won't be set until after today," Leonard said this morning.
The Tigers will have a qualifying round in practice this afternoon to help determine who will be the five varsity golfers for next week.
Nevada will play in a tournament at Butler Monday, their next varsity competition.
The Tigers actually opened the season with an 18-hole tournament in Neosho Monday.
There were 17 full teams there, and 21 schools all together.
Nevada finished eighth in the field, finishing with a team score of 339.
Gast shot 82 to lead the Tigers individually, with Crooks shooting 88.
The Braucher and Hill played best ball format, combining for an 88.
Moore and Davis shot an 81 playing scramble format.
Carl Junction won the tournament, shooting 308. Cassville was second with a 310.