SPRINGFIELD — It’s far from a stretch to say many high schoolers may not recognize the name Payne Stewart.
At Greenwood, it carries a lot of weight.
"When I first started playing in fourth grade, I remember hearing the stories,” junior Tommy Montileone said. "It always made me want to play, just watching those U.S. Open videos where he made that putt on the last hole.”
That putt won Stewart his third and final major, a cap as suitable as the ones he would doff as part of his signature outfits. Now, another group of golfers plan to put a memorable cap on a marquee season.
Five members of the Greewood golf team will compete in the Class 1 State Championships on Monday and Tuesday in Fremont Hills: John Ankrom, Tony Brandt, Matt Rowe, Jacob Kassing, and Montileone.
They all know they have a chance at something Stewart never captured, but are using his memory as a motivator.
"We've said 'For Payne' a lot this season,” Ankrom said. "It became an inspiration to do it in honor of him and to live up to the expectations that we all have.”
Ankrom, who finished tied for seventh at sectionals, knew of Stewart’s importance from an early age thanks to his father, a golf enthusiast. It was only heightened when he became a Blue Jay over the summer. He’s one of two transfers competing at state, along with former Bolivar state qualifier Tony Brandt.
"Early in the summer, I heard rumors that transfers were coming in, and I told all 15 of the players that if what I heard was true, we could compete for a state title,” head coach Dr. David Oatman said. "Well, what I heard WAS true.”
Both transfers pumped new life into the program. Brandt shot the best overall score at sectionals. Ankrom has become infamous for his analysis, like when the team was deciding whether to play a practice round in Fremont Hills on Sunday or rest rather than play three rounds on consecutive days.
"I responded with maybe not playing a full round, but getting on the greens, taking 20 putts per green, knowing them and where we can take advantage of the course,” he said. "Where does it play into our game? We have to make realizations as a team, like one guy pointing out a bunker next to the green that's easy to hit or a break that we can't see for ourselves.”
It’s that attention to detail that makes the job easy for Dr. Oatman, now in his 34th year of coaching at Greenwood. Having just retired from Missouri State, he was up front about telling his kids from the first day that they could win a team championship, something that’s eluded Oatman over his career with four different sports.
Greenwood won a team championship in 2009, with athletic director Darren Taylor as coach, and this group bought into the Dr. Oatman's belief of duplicating it. They rewarded that confidence with four tournament wins and finished second and third in two others. Then, five players qualified for state as Kassing finished tied for 10th at sectionals while Rowe shot the 14th-lowest score to tie for 24th.
"For a consistently strong team throughout, that's what I mean when I say this year is unprecedented,” he said.
Montileone was the highest finisher at state a year ago, coming in 10 strokes off the lead for fourth. He took second at sectionals this year and admitted the stiffer competition from his new teammates helped sharpen his resolve.
"This year, I've never quit on any one shot,” he said. "I've had more focus and drive because I know I'm running out of time to get it.”
Now he’s part of what has become a true team with a true shot, not just for Dr. Oatman or #ForPayne, but for each other.
"You have to make the game not just about yourself but about the team and benefitting each other,” Ankrom said. "It's not luck at all. We've earned the right to be here and compete for a state title. It's nowhere near finished and, come Monday, we'll see what we're made of."
