By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
OZARK — Top storylines at the Ozark Tournament on Thursday included Nixa capturing its first team title under new coach Scott Miller and Ozark’s Riley Franklin winning tourney medalist honors for the first time in his Tigers career.
The Eagles totaled a 292 at Fremont Hills Country Club to edge runner-up Ozark and its 295 and third-place Kickapoo and its 297.
Miller has been at Nixa as a coach and teacher for 16 years, but this is first season as the Eagles’ head coach. He replaced Jeff Lotz.
“We do miss Lotz a lot, but our new coach is amazing,” senior Will Johnston said. “We love him. He’s very supportive and always trying to do better for us.”
Nixa’s scores included a 71 by Peyton Burbridge, a 72 by Johnston, a 74 by Ayden Willoughby and a 75 by Caden Geary 75.
The team championship is Nixa’s first title since the Eagles posted a school-record even-par 284 while winning the Carthage Tournament a year ago.
“We hadn’t quite put it all together this year before today,” Johnston said. “If we play like we did today, I feel like we have a good chance (at the record).”
Geary shot three-under par over his final four holes Thursday.
“He might have won it for us,” Johnston said.
Burbrdge’s 71 was good for third individually.
Franklin topped the field with a seven-under par 64.
“It was nice to go low,” Franklin said. “I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens. I left a couple shots out there with my putting.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE TOURNAMENT
Franklin carded birdies on holes 2, 5, 10, 13, 15 and 17. He recorded an eagle on the 505-yard, par-five 7 hole. His lone bogey came on 16.
“I would say it’s my second-best round out there,” Franklin said.
Earlier this spring, Franklin tied Fremont’s course record with an 11-under 60 during a practice round.
“This course is not super long and you can get around easily if you know it,” Franklin said. “I feel like if you know this course, it’s a big advantage.”
The Tigers received a 75 from Thomas Freeman and 78s from Lucas Hanks and Evan Growcock.
“We all played really good, which was good to see,” Franklin said. “(The COC Tournament) is going to be here so this is good confidence for us for conference, and we’re going to try to make state as a team.”
The only other score in the 60s came from Springfield Catholic’s Harper Elliott. He finished second with a two-under 69 that was full of dramatics. Remarkably, his scorecard included only four pars.
On the front nine, he had an eagle, two birdies and four bogeys. On the back nine, he had four birdies and two bogeys. He had no double-bogeys.
“I had plenty of birdies and bogeys,” Elliott said. “It was a roller-coaster round. There were a lot of ups and downs, but overall a pretty good round. I’m proud of it.”
Elliott considers Fremont his home course and said his familiarity served him well, especially when he had to respond to adversity.
“I can get frustrated by bogeys,” Elliott said. “I handled (them) pretty well today because I trusted that I know the course and knew I could get some shots back with birdies.”
Elliott was most encouraged by his drives.
“My driver was very good,” he said. “It’s been rough all season. I hit it better today. The last couple days, I was working on it and found some better swings.”
Kickapoo’s 297 included a 72 from Maxwell Sutton, a 74 from Ethan Bartels, a 75 from Lincoln Swann and a 76 from Caleb Kim.
