Central's Simmons in hunt at Class 4 golf tournament

~ The Central senior opened with a 2-over 74 at Dalhousie Golf Club

The woods and irons were working well for Travis Simmons.

Unfortunately, his putter was not.

Simmons, a senior at Central High School, was 2-over par after the first day of the Class 4 Missouri State High School Golf Championships on Monday at Dalhousie Golf Club.

Simmons' 74 left him in a four-way tie for sixth place, three shots behind co-leaders Brad Carpenter of Washington and Joshua O'Hearn of Timberland, who both were at 1-under 71. He was one of eight players within four shots of the lead.

Luke Radetic from Chaminade chips from the sand on the 11th hole at Dalhousie Golf Club on Monday during the Class 4 state tournament. (Laura Simon)

"My ball-striking was completely there, exactly where I needed it to be," Simmons said. "Especially on the back nine, though, those putts just weren't falling for me. I missed at least three I know of inside three feet, and that kills a round."

Simmons made the turn at 1-under after birdies on the second and sixth holes and a hard-luck bogey on No. 8, where he missed a four-footer for par.

"After the front nine, shooting 35, I can't really be happy with 74," he added. "But, at the same time, I'm still in the tournament, still in the hunt."

Simmons will tee off at 9:21 a.m. in the second group from the end to tee off today in the final round of the tournament. Forecasts call for warm temperatures, but with winds gusting well into the 20-mph range.

Carpenter, who played in the same foursome as Simmons, set the early pace, going 3-under par after six holes before taking a bogey on the 556-yard par-5 seventh hole. He recovered to par the par-3 eighth, then birdied the par-4 ninth despite landing in the mud near the water hazard on the left with his drive.

Spectators watch players tee off on the sixth hole during the Class 4 state golf tournament Monday at Dalhousie Golf Club .

"That was awesome," Carpenter said. "I don't know how I pulled that one off."

Despite his muddy lie, Carpenter was able to knock his approach to about eight feet from the pin, then drained the putt for a clutch birdie.

"It was sitting so pretty," Carpenter said. "I was like, 'I can't not play that.' So I stepped in [the mud], got a feel for it, and just hit it."

As remarkable as his 3-under was on the front nine, his string of pars on the back nine was equally impressive. He parred every hole except the 16th, a 415-yard par-4 where a short approach left him in a deep bunker. He pitched out, then three-putted for a double bogey, his lone blemish on the back nine.

"I just wanted to make par, but I let one get away from me on 16," he said. "I was just trying to hit the center of the green, but it just got away from me."

Luke Radetic from Chaminade chips from the sand on the 11th hole at Dalhousie Golf Club, Monday, May 19, 2014, during the Class 4 state golf tournament. (Laura Simon)

Carpenter said playing in the same foursome as Simmons helped his game.

"When you play with someone good like Travis, I think it helps my game," Carpenter said. "Especially when you have someone playing right next to you that's playing well. It keeps you going."

O'Hearn finished his front nine in 1-under, then was even-par over the final nine holes.

"Hitting fairways was the key, because the rough was thick," the senior said. "And making par putts."

O'Hearn topped his first drive of the day and had to scramble for par. He had two birdies and one bogey on the front nine before playing the back nine in even par.

"There were definitely some tough pins on the back nine," he said.

James Siegfried of DeSmet was alone in third following an even-par 72 that featured three birdies in a string of four holes after starting his round on the 10th hole.

"That really got me going," Siegfried said. "I struggled on the front (nine), just missed some putts here and there."

Rock Bridge led the team scores with 311, paced by Matt Echelmeier's 1-over 73. Rockhurst was second at 318.

Class 4 Missouri State Golf Tournament

at Dalhouse Golf Club

Team scores

1. Rock Bridge 311, 2. Rockhurst 318, 3. St. Louis University High 320, 4. Glendale 321, 5. Chaminade 323, 6. DeSmet 324, 7. Liberty 335, 8. Lafayette Wildwood 345.

8. Lafayette Wildwood 345.

Top individuals

71 -- Brad Carpenter, Washington; Joshue O'Hearn, Timberland.

72 -- Jame Siegfried, DeSmet.

73 -- Matt Echelmeier, Rock Bridge; Chris Wootten, Francis Howell.

74 -- David T. Bennett, Branson; Cole Roberts, St. Joseph Central; Travis Simmons, Cape Central; Frankie Y. Thomas, Marquette.

75 -- Jack Knoesel, Rock Bridge.