By Don Eskins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Carl Junction Bulldogs claimed the team title at the 2024 Ozark Invitational Golf tournament, on Thursday, Apr. 11, at the Fremont Hills Country Club Golf Course.
Led by Jack Spencer’s three under par 68, the Dogs carded a tournament low 308 to slip past the Nixa Eagles, three strokes back at 311. Leading the Eagles at the Fremont Hills event was Meyer Lively with a 74.
Sharing third place honors were the Ozark Tigers and Webb City Cardinals. Top scorer for the Tigers was Riley Franklin with a 76 while Cooper Forth led the Cardinals with a 78.
As if there wasn’t already enough drama, on the windy and overly cool day at the Ozark Invitational, Joplin’s Harry Satterlee and Carl Junction’s Jack Spencer provided a little more. After 18 holes of play both players turned scorecards in with 68’s on them. As a result, the two linksters teed up on the par 3, 9th hole for a sudden death playoff to see which golfer would own this year’s Ozark Invitational top medalist honors.
Satterlee, up first and about 180 yards out, dropped his ball on the green about five feet from the pin. Spencer left his short, pitched up just short of the green, and then rolled it in for a par.
Having made his par, Spencer put the heat back on Satterlee. Now it would take a birdie for the Joplin linkster to end the match and grab the tourney’s top individual award. After lining up his putt, Satterlee dropped it in. The match was over the Ozark Invitational Top Medalist honor was his.
Satterlee said, after having left his tee shot just short of the hole he felt pretty confident about his chances of winning, but he was playing Spencer and anything was still possible.
“It didn’t really surprise me at all that Jack made his par. He’s a great golfer and were good friends,” said Satterlee. “Honestly, even though he put some pressure on me to have to birdie out, I was kind of happy for him.”
Both players said they had to grind a bit to card their 68’s.
“I had a pretty good round today but had some struggles with my putting today,” said Spencer,” “But I kind of made up for some of my struggles by dropping in a shot for an eagle from 90 yards out. Most of my finish though dealt with working hard to keep my emotions under control.
“It’s a shorter course, but obviously the wind made it more difficult,” said Satterlee. “However, I was able to scratch around for a few holes and make a few birdies. Although the conditions weren’t great, I was still pretty happy with my round.
Scorecards for ‘Top 4 Teams.’
First Place: Carl Junction 308- 1. Jack Spencer 68, 2. Logan Lowery 77, 3. Austin Baker 79, 4. Tom Walker 84 and Jack Tate 108.
Second: Nixa Eagles 311- 1. Meyer Lively 74, 2. Jackson McRoberts 75, T3. Peyton Burbridge 81, T3 Walker Johnston 81 and 5. Dawson Huff 83.
Third-tie: Ozark Tigers 313- 1. Riley Franklin 76, 2. Boston Huddleston 77, T3. Carter Jackson 80, T3. Kyle Fitzpatrick 80 and 5. Luke Jenkins 85.
Third- Tie: Webb City Cardinals 313- T1. Cooper Forth 78, T1. Levi Lassiter 78, T1. Braden McKee, 4. Jackson Lucas 79 and Carson Judd 88.
Ozark Invitational Top 15
1. Carl Junction – 308
2. Nixa – 311
T3. Ozark – 313
T3. Webb City – 313
5. Kickapoo – 320
6. Rogersville – 327
T7. Branson – 329
T7. West Plains – 331.
9. Monett – 336
10. Republic – 337
11. Neosho – 339
12. Joplin – 339
13. Carthage – 345
14. Willard – 349.
15. Marshfield – 356.
Ozark Top Medalists
1. M. Satterlee – 68 – Joplin
2. J. Spencer – 68 – Carl Junction
3. M. Lively – 74 – Nixa
4. C. Bekemeier – 74 – Republic
5. J. McRoberts – 75 – Nixa
6. O. Jump – 76 – Kickapoo
T-7. R. Franklin – 76 – Ozark
T-7. O. Derryberry – 76 – Carthage
9. B. Huddleston – 77 – Ozark
10. A. Bristow – 77- Branson
11. . Lowery – 77 – Carl Junction
12. N. Thompson – 77 – Kickapoo
13. J. Bailey – 77 – Monett
