By Don Eskins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Nixa Eagles, led by Noah Naugle’s 76, outdistanced the Ozark Tigers by 6 strokes, 310-316, to capture this year’s 2024 COC Golf Championship. Ozark was paced by Riley Franklin, who carded a 70.
Claiming third place were the Carl Junction Bulldogs. The Dogs came in at 318 and were led by Jack Spencer’s 70. The event took place in Springfield at Rivercut Golf Course, on Monday, Apr. 29.
“With so many talented teams in our conference, this tournament could have gone several ways. Ozark, just six strokes back, played well enough to have won as did Carl Junction, just eight strokes back. Branson and Webb City also played well,” said Nixa head coach Jeff Lotz. “So, picking up today’s COC championship trophy was really a huge win for our kids.”
“I think what we accomplished here today was definitely the result of a team effort,” said the Eagle coach. “They all did their jobs and when things got tough, they didn’t fold, they stepped up. That’s what good teams do and that’s why they won today.”
Although the Eagles had no individuals score well enough to place among the tournament’s top five players, they did bunch up their scorecards, a key component to why they’ve been so successful this year. Only 14 strokes separated their No. 1 and No. 5 players.
Following Naugle’s 76, Jackson McRoberts carded a 77 and Peyton Burbridge a 78. Meyer Lively finished fourth with a 79 and Dawson Huff an 80.
“Our kids are very competitive, they want to win whether it’s during tournament play or practice drills,” said Lotz. “It’s their competitive spirit that has gotten us to where we are now.”
Lotz was especially pleased with the efforts exhibited by his No. 4, Peyton Burbridge, and No. 5, Dawson Huff, players.
“We’ve gotten solid play from our top three players this season, but most tournaments are decided by your depth, your fourth and fifth spots,” said the Nixa coach. “We’ve got two of the best in Peyton and Dawson. Today Peyton, our No. 4 man, placed third and Dawson, with an 80, was just one stroke back of Meyer Lively who placed fourth today with a 79.”
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“With their work ethics, on a good day, I feel like all of our kids are capable of recording under par rounds. Earlier this season they shot a 294,” said Lotz. “Our kids are very focused on what they want to accomplish this year. They want to win district and get an opportunity to compete at state, that’s what’s kept them working so hard all season long.”
District tournament play is scheduled to get underway for the Eagles on Monday, May 6, at the Fremont Hills Golf Course in Nixa.
“This is the time of the year our boys have been working for all season,” said the Eagle coach. “And as they get ready to compete for this year’s district title, as their coach, I couldn’t be more proud of them. Now we just to have to go out and get it done.”
Spencer COC Top Medalist
Carl Junction’s Jack Spencer and Ozark’s Riley Franklin tied for top medalist honors at the COC championship. Both golfers recorded two under par rounds of 70. In order to determine this year’s individual champion Spencer and Franklin teed off in a sudden death playoff.
After both players logged bogeys on the first two holes of sudden death play, Spencer birdied the third, a 391 yard par four hole, to grab the COC Tournament’s top medalist honors.
COC Scorecards: Top 3 Teams
Nixa First Place- 310: 1. Noah Naugle 76, 2. Jackson McRoberts 77, 3. Peyton Burbridge 78, 4. Meyer Lively 79 and 5. Dawson Huff 80.
Ozark Second Place- 316: 1. Riley Franklin 70, 2. C.J. Jackson 80, 3. Boston Huddleston 83, 4. Luke Jenkins 83 and 5. Kyle Fitzpatrick 84.
Carl Junction Third Place – 318: 1. Jack Spencer 70, 2. Tommy Walker 75, 3. Logan Lowry 80, 4. Austin Baker 83 and 5. Cruz Boren 94.
COC Team Results
1. Nixa – 310
2. Ozark – 316
3. Carl Junction -318
4. Branson – 324
5. Webb City – 330
6. Republic – 345
7. Neosho – 349
8. Joplin – 360
T9. Willard – 373
T9. Carthage – 373
All-Conference Team
1. Jack Spencer – 70 – Carl Junction
2. Riley Frannklin – 70 – Ozark
3. Harry Satterlee – 74 – Joplin
4. Tommy Walker – 75 – Carl Junction
T5. Cooper Forth – 76 – Webb City
T5. Noah Naugle – 76 – Nixa
7. Jackson McRoberts 77 – Nixa
T8. Peyton Burbridge – 78 – Nixa
T8. Cason Bekemeier – 78 – Republic
T8. Andrew Bristow – 78 – Branson
Honorable Mention
T1. Kale Zeller – 79 – Branson
T1. Meyer LIvely – 79 – Nixa
T3. Logan Lowry – 80 – Branson
T3. C.J. Jackson – 80 – Ozark
T3. Dawson Huff – 80 – Nixa
T3. Owen Derryberry – 80 – Carthage
