Tigers take fourth in final tuneup before conference

By Chris Patch

Herald-Tribune

Nevada golf took fourth at the Webb City/Carl Junction Invitational Friday at Briarbrook Country Club in an effort to get familiar with the course before returning again for the Southwest Conference tournament Thursday.

As usual, Tyler Gast shot the low round for Nevada with an 80, good for fifth place out of 55. All five Tiger golfers kept their scores under 90, where they will need to be to have any hope of qualifying for state. Head coach Brian Leonard said if his squad can get into the low forties it will have a great shot to make it past district.

"They did OK," Leonard said. "I'd like to see them down in the 70's, of course, for Tyler (Gast) but he'll come around. I'm hoping Zach (Braucher) can get his down around 80. Just looking at the scores, if this were district, it would take an 84 to qualify."

To help get those scores low Leonard designed his schedule to familiarize his team with Briarbrook before the conference and district tournaments. Nevada's last four tournaments are at Briarbrook, something Leonard thinks will lower scores come conference.

"I learned my lesson several years ago when I was helping coach Catron coach," Leonard said. "He took his boys down to Briarbrook several weekends in a row and they came back and won district that year.

"Being familiar with the course helps, so I think the boys know what's going on on the course and if they can just execute what they know about the course within their limits."

The conference tournament begins 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 29 at Briarbrook Country Club in Webb City.