Jackson golf team captures ND Invitational by one shot

Jackson had a closer call in winning the team competition than Central junior Travis Simmons had in winning the medalist honor Tuesday at the Notre Dame Invitational on Tuesday at Bent Creek Golf Course.

Jackson, with its top four players shooting 82 or better, posted a 319 total and a one-stroke victory over host Notre Dame.

Simmons, despite bogeying his final two holes, shot a 2-over-par 74 and finished with a two-shot cushion over a trio of players that included Jackson junior Adam Way and Notre Dame freshman Jack Litzelfelner.

"Travis has turned into quite a golfer," said Central coach Dick Wadlington, who saw his team place third with a 327 total. "He's played extremely well in every match we've had. He's consistent in practice. He's developed extremely good practice habits, and he's done everything you need to do to become an outstanding golfer."

All three schools finished ahead of fourth place Poplar Bluff (330), which had won the tournament at least the previous six years but was playing just its first competition this season due to inclement weather.

Jackson’s Eli Pike putts on the sixth green Monday during the Notre Dame Invitational at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson. (Laura Simon)

Jackson's team total consisted of Way (76), freshman Hunter Asher (79), sophomore Eli Pike (82) and senior Garrett Griffin (82).

"That's the first time I've been coaching that we've won that tournament," Jackson coach Zack Walton said. "We've come close, really close in the past, but we've never won that one."

Walton credited Way, who was playing in the second spot for the Indians, with anchoring the team with his 4-over-par score.

"He really came through for us and got us a good, low score, otherwise it makes it really difficult if you don't have somebody come in with a low score," Walton said.

The 12-team field was up against cool and breezy conditions, and the greens had been aerated recently.

"They [the greens] were a little bumpy so there weren't a lot of really low scores today," Walton said. "I think the Simmons kid shot a good score, but overall every team out there could have shot a little bit better."

Litzelfelner and junior teammate Brady Dixon (79) were among seven players to shoot under 80 for the round. The Bulldogs' 320 total was rounded out by sophomore Jon Renner (81) and senior Cody Cox (84). The Bulldogs were without junior Nick Cantoni, who had been among their top four scorers in their two previous events this season as they finished runner-up for the third consecutive year. All three runner-up finishes have been by three strokes or less.

Central's third-place finish was aided by a 78 from freshman Kobe Franklin.

But in the individual competition, Simmons distanced himself from the field early with a 1-under 35 over the front nine.

"Seventy-four was really an oustanding score," Wadlington said. "The weather is still bad. The courses are wet, the greens are not in real good shape -- I'm not criticizing Bent Creek -- I'm just saying all the courses are very similar right now. We just haven't had the weather. And I'll tell you what, there are really some fine high school golfers in Southeast Missouri this year. It's as good as I can remember."

Tournament Results

Team -- 1. Jackson 319, 2. Notre Dame 320, 3. Central 327, 4. Poplar Bluff 330, 5. Sikeston 333, 6. Dexter 373, 7. Farmington 379, 8. St. Vincent 384, 9. Perryville 401, 10. Kennett 407, 11. Saxony Lutheran 422, 12. Kelly 431

Top 10 -- 1. Travis Simmons, Central, 74; 2 (tie). Adam Way, Jackson, 76; 2 (tie). Jack Litzelfelner, Notre Dame, 76; 2 (tie). Gabe Wheeler, Sikeston 76; 5. Nick Woolard, Sikeston, 77; 6. Kobe Franklin, Central, 78; 7. Brady Dixon, Notre Dame, 79; 8 (tie). Jon Renner, Notre Dame, 81; 8 (tie). Collin Sprandel, Saxony Lutheran, 81; 8 (tie). Kirk Hoggatt, Sikeston, 81

Jackson (319) -- Adam Way 76, Hunter Asher 79, Eli Pike 82, Garrett Griffin 82

Notre Dame (320) -- Jack Litzelfelner 76, Brady Dixon 79, Jon Renner 81, Cody Cox 84

Central (327) -- Travis Simmons 74, Kobe Franklin 78, Luke Kinder 83, Parker Browne 92

Poplar Bluff (330) -- Nick Woolard 77, Ryan McVey 80, John Gilmore 86, Hunter Pyland 87

Sikeston (333) -- Gabe Wheeler 76, Kirk Hoggatt 81, Connor Landers 86, Conor McGillivary 90

Dexter (373) -- Ethan Stevens 86, Drake Mitchell 93, Miles Urhahn 97, Austin Chesser 97

Farmington (379) -- Ian Semar 85, Blake Harrison 96, John Burcham 97, Jack Pinkley 101

St. Vincent (384) -- Levi Gotto 88, Kelly Welker 93, Zach Heberlie 97, Alex Miget 106,

Perryville (401)) -- Brett Schnurbusch 88, Kyle Thieret 96, Garrett Zoellner 105, Conner Stark 112

Kennett (407) -- Bryce McPherson 87, Aaron Beck 92, Josh Neighbors 114, Colin Byers 120

Saxony Lutheran (422) -- Collin Sprandel 81, Logan Sprandel 105, Ben Unger 115, Scott Smith 121

Kelly (431) -- Derrick Garner 91, Jacob Riley 110, Josh Roberts 113, Drew Keene 117