Bearcat golfers capture fifth in Class 3

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Dexter Bearcats boys golf team kept the momentum going Tuesday as the Bearcats competed in the Class 3 state championship at Rivercut Golf Course.

After shooting 317 during round one action, the Bearcats concluded a wet second round with a score of 313, good for fifth place (630).

Fredric Nesselrodt shot a 143 to tie California’s William Boyd for third place.

“It was definitely a battle, left a couple of shots out there,” Nesselrodt said. “Overall, proud of my performance and hoping to do a little bit better next year.”

The soon-to-be junior was just as focused on the team as he was himself.

“Maybe, as a team, even pick up a win with us improving over the summer, fall and into spring,” he said of his teammates.

Rivercut — a top 100 course in the country — provides some tough terrain.

The course was named to GolfWeek’s top-10 Missouri public courses in 2022, and rated Golf Digest’s No. 1 Missouri Municipal Golf Course (2009).

“The greens were tricky,” Nesselrodt said. “A lot of putts that I thought I hit well just didn’t drop. Overall, they were pretty nice, pretty nice. The weather was tough but everyone else was playing in it. It didn’t mess me up too bad.”

Benjamin Christian finished tied for 26th with a 154, while Tucker Temples tied for 37th with a 159, Alyssa Warren tied for 70th at 174 and William Guethle finished tied for 81st at 180.

Nesselrodt likes the maturation of his team: a team took home the district championship earlier this month. The Bearcats shot a program-best 305 then en route to the title.

“I have seen a lot of improvement,” he said. “Just us coming together; really proud of us. We shot the best scores we ever have at state.”

Christian said while he didn’t have his A-game, it serves as motivation for an even better 2025.

“Obviously, I didn’t play to my capabilities this week,” he said. “I have been in a slump, but one tournament does not define you as a player. I can take some positives away from the week; we are a young team and we played well.”

Work ethic is the motto headed into the offseason, Temples said.

“We play well together. We have good work ethic,” he said. “If we have good things for years to come. We had a great season. We pretty much beat every record we’ve had for golf. It is one of those years where the class we are in is really good.”

Temples said playing through unfavorable conditions comments on the team’s resolve.

“It was the longest two days of golf in my life,” Temples said. “The weather was … today was worse than yesterday. Yesterday, I didn’t get touched by the rain. Today, was really bad. It was just a grind both days.”