Advance's Whitson tops PB Invitational golf field, Jackson wins in team standings

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A change of venue helped Brian Whitson feel at home during the PB Invitational.

The Advance senior returned Friday to Ozark Ridge Golf Course and was the only player to break par, earning medalist honors.

"I played here since I was 8 years old," said Whitson, who finished at 2-under-par 68 for a three-shot victory.

"I like it."

So did Ty LeGrand and the Jackson Indians.

LeGrand placed second at 1-over 71 and was one of three Indians to break 80 to take the team title by six shots. Case Englehart and Hunter Asher each shot 79, tying for 11th, while Tanner Walton was a shot back tied for 14th and Landry Moore was 17th with a non-scoring 81.

Jackson's 309 beat the host Mules, who had not played or practiced at Ozark Ridge this spring.

Poplar Bluff's home course, Westwood Hills Country Club, was to host the event Monday before rain postponed the 16-team tournament, moving it to the 5,827-yard Ozark Ridge.

"I don't think I would have done the same as here," said Whitson, who shot 12-over 83 to tie for 22nd at Westwood Hills in the Invitational last year.

His round Friday started with consecutive pars before consecutive birdies beginning on the par-5 eighth hole, his third. Another birdie followed on the par-3 ninth when his tee shot landed within a foot of the hole.

"It may have hit the pin, it may have lipped out, I don't know," Whitson said.

He got to 3-under after missing an eagle putt on the par-5 12th for a tap-in birdie.

Dexter's Ethan Stevens later sank his eagle putt on 12 after sticking a 9-iron from 150 yards within 15 feet.

Brian Rosener ~ Daily American Republic Jackson's Hunter Asher chips onto the 17th green at Ozark Ridge Golf Course during the PB Invitational on Friday, April 15, 2016, in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

"I hadn't been putting very well but it went in," said Stevens, who got back to even par with the putt.

A bogey on the next hole and a triple-bogey three holes later when he hit into the woods knocked the Dexter senior over par but he carded his second birdie on the final hole and tied for fourth at 3-over 73.

LeGrand got to 1-under with a two-putt birdie on No. 12 but he also followed with a bogey and a double bogey. His tee shot on the par-3 17th landed within 10 feet, leading to a birdie while he also carded birdies on the par-4 seventh and par-3 ninth holes.

"I struggled putting a little bit at first then I righted the ship a little," LeGrand said.

Whitson sank a birdie putt on No. 13, which tied for the toughest hole in the round. A pitching wedge from 117 yards landed within 5 feet of the cup, leading to one of three birdies from the field.

"That's a hole you need to hit your tee shot somewhere in play," Whitson said. "I kind of let up on my driver."

His first bogey of the round came on the next hole, the downhill par-4 14th, when he, "pulled a little Speith."

"I chunked it and ended up short of the sand trap," Whitson added.

After four straight pars, Whitson missed the No. 1 fairway left, leading to a bogey, while another followed at the par-3 third hole when he missed a 5-foot putt to get up and down. He sank a birdie putt on the par-4 fourth and finished with a par.

"I never really intended to birdie (No.) 4," Whitson said. "I was thinking par-par. It turned out pretty good."

Playing in the same group as Whitson, Central's Kobe Franklin placed third at 2-over.

Franklin opened with the first of his four birdies and had nine pars but played the final seven holes 4-over.

Notre Dame's Jonathan Bell tied for fourth at 3-over 73. He was 1-under after eight holes and after a birdie on No. 12 but also ran into trouble on the next hole.

Bloomfield's Andrew Northern was a stroke back for sixth while teammate Peyton Bell's round featured an eagle on the par-5 second hole, his 15th of the day.

Poplar Bluff was led by sophomore Nathan Woolard's 75 while senior Jake Richardson shot 79.

Poplar Bluff shot 315 while Dexter was third at 335. Notre Dame's 338 edged Advance by a stroke followed by Cape Central (351), Saxony Lutheran (353), Bloomfield (358) and Carthersville (360).

"They had their kids step up," Mules coach Billy Pyland said of Jackson.

The teams will tee up again Monday at Jackson's tournament and again for the conference championship on April 25 in Sikeston.

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PB INVITATIONAL

At Ozark Ridge Golf Course, par 72

Jackson 309; Poplar Bluff 315; Dexter 335; Notre Dame 338; Advance 339; Cape Central 351; Saxony Lutheran 353; Bloomfield 358; Caruthersville 360; Kennett 377; Clearwater 398; Doniphan 417; Sikeston 424; Kelly 466; PB Maroon 467; Malden NTS.

1. Brian Whitson, Advance, 68; 2. Ty LeGrand, Jackson, 71; 3. Kobe Franklin, Central, 72; 4. Ethan Stevens, Dexter, 73; Jonathan Bell, Notre Dame, 73; 6. Andrew Northern, Bloomfield, 74; 7. Nathan Woolard, Poplar Bluff, 75; 8. Peyton Bell, Bloomfield, 77; Gavin White, Dexter 77; 10. Karsten Short, Saxony Lutheran, 78; 11. Case Englehart, Jackson, 79; Jake Richardson, Poplar Bluff, 79; Hunter Asher, Jackson, 79;