By Don Eskins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
All the Nixa Eagles have done this year is win. Teeing up in the Ozark Invitational on Thursday; they won again. The tournament took place at the Fremont Hills Country Club Golf Course in Nixa.
With a full slate of golfers who shot in the sub-80’s, the Eagles posted a glittering 293, to capture this year’s Ozark Invitational. Tops on the Eagle scorecard were Chandler Burch and Jordan Hatman, both who came in at 71.
Second place honors went out to the Carl Junction Bulldogs. The Bulldogs, behind low man Jack Spencer’s 70, finished just six strokes behind the Eagles at 299.
The Ozark Tigers, only eight strokes back, registered a 301 to place third. CJ Jackson, with a round of 69, led the Tiger effort.
As for the Eagles victory, in a field that boasted 19 teams, head coach Jeff Lotz couldn’t have been happier.
“These kids are just an exceptional group of young men. Today they gave me everything that I had asked of them, they just continue to surprise me,” said Lotz. “These kids are just a very solid team and on any given day, anyone one of them, one thru six, can beat the other.”
Nixa found themselves in somewhat of a dilemma as the Invitational got underway on Thursday. But the Eagles didn’t let a bit of drama get in the way of them taking care business.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE TOURNAMENT
“We lost the services of Johnathan Miller for this tournament. He sprained an ankle on Monday,” said the Eagle coach. “But we had others step up to help us get the win.”
Nixa senior Chandler Burch concurred with Lotz’s assessment.
“We just have the ability to pick each other up, especially when things are tough,” he said. “Although we didn’t have Johnathan Miller, one of our top players, with us today Chance Wilhite stepped in for him and shot a 78. Our No. 4 man, Jordan Hatman, stepped up to card a 71. Everyone picks each other up and we just roll with it.”
Hatman’s 71 was his best of the year.
“This was my best round of the year,” said Hatman. “I had a birdie today and a lot of pars. So I’m really happy with my effort. Especially so with our win.”
Top Medalist honors went out to Kickapoo’s Gaige Lewis. Lewis carded a low round of 68. Close behind was Ozarks’ C.J. Jackson who fired a 69.
En route to his 68 Lewis recorded four birdies on the day.
Scorecards- ‘Top 3 Teams.’
First Place: Nixa- 293. 1. Chandler Burch 71, 2. Meyer Lively 78, 3. Noah Naugle 73, 4. Jordan Hatman 71 and 5. Chance Wilhite 78.
Second Place: Carl Junction- 299. 1. Jack Spencer 70, 2. Zach Wrensch 81, 3. Noah Williams 75, 4. Jacob Teeter 73 and 5. Tommy Walker 82.
Third Place: Ozark 301. 1. Kyler Smith 72, 2. Kyle Fitzpatrick 76, 3. Caden Barrett 84, 4. Boston Huddleston 84 and 5. C.J. Jackson 69.
Team Results
1. Nixa- 293
2. Carl Jct.- 299
3. Ozark- 301
4. Kickapoo- 306
5. Carthage- 312
6. Joplin- 317
7. Reeds Spring- 320
T8. Springfield Catholic- 321
T8. Republic- 321
10. Webb City- 322
11. Monett- 324
12. Ozark ‘B”- 328
13. Marshfield- 330
14. Willard- 337
15. Greenwood- 339
16. Branson- 341
17. Kickapoo ‘B’- 364
18. Republic ‘B’- 370
19. Hillcrest- 401
Medalists
1. Gaige Lewis – 68 – Kickapoo
2. C.J. Jackson – 69 – Ozark
T3. Jack Spencer – 70 Carl Jct.
T3. Harry Satterlee – 70 – Joplin
T3. Ty Cooper – 70 – Reeds Spring
T6. Cason Bekemeier – 71 – Republic
T6. Chandler Burch – 71 – Nixa
T6. Jordan Hatman – 71 – Nixa
T9. Kyler Smith – 72 – Ozark
T9. Jaxon Bailey – 72 – Monett
