Mules duo preps for state golf tourney

The Poplar Bluff Mules will send two golfers to the MSHAA Class 5 State Tournament on Monday at Silo Ridge Golf & Country Club in Bolivar with one of the Mules back for a second straight year.

Bluff junior Lawson Barks carded a 76 in last week’s district tournament to claim his in this year’s state tournament, making it two in a row for the Mules leader. Freshman Corbin Thomas used a top-three finish in the SEMO Conference Tournament to give him a boost as he finished with a 78 at districts to claim his spot at state, making Thomas one of the handful of freshmen individuals that veteran head coach Billy Pyland has taken to the state tournament.

“It feels good,” Barks said of his return. “I’m not going to say I expected to go but for me, if I don’t go, I’m doing something wrong … Since I’m going, I’m doing something right. I’m heading in the right direction.”

When asked if the nerves were gone with next week being his second state trip, Barks was quick to shut down that notion.

“The nerves are still going to be there,” he said. “Whether you expect them to be or not. They’re going to be there.”

Pyland said Barks did everything he needed to do during the summer to put himself in the best positon for his junior season.

“What he did this summer was be one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever seen,” Pyland said. “Out here all the time. I’d always say, I’d have kids work harder than he’s working harder. He’s trying to prove me wrong that he’s the hardest working. That’s good because he is … always trying to get people out here. That’s a captain to me.”

Barks’ freshman teammate echoed the sentiment of excitement to play next week as Pyland said Thomas has grown a lot this season.

“He has matured more from the beginning of the year to now,” he said. “He has grown a little more but then his fault is he gets down on himself.”

Thomas admitted he sometimes gets down on himself, but he’s excited for the opportunity to showcase what helped him to get this point.

“It feels pretty good,” he said. “I feel like I could have played a little bit better this season but as long as I keep out of my head like I’ve been trying to do, I should be pretty good.”

Pyland and his golfers will head west to Bolivar on Sunday with a practice round in the afternoon and the first round starting on Monday morning.

For Pyland, he said the year would be difficult at times with a young squad, but added he’s pleased with how hard his team worked, especially after winning a few tournaments.

He said for his two players next week, it’s all about what goes on between their ears.

“It’s a lot of mental for these guys,” he said. “The more repetition of their mistakes they get out of, the better player they are going to be. I can help them with their swing but I’m not out there when they’re playing to help. I’m there for their mental part. Ask me questions. What I think they should hit.

“They always listen. That’s what makes it special to me and to see their success. Make all-state, that’s our goal and to medal. I think these two have a chance to win a medal. I think they’re that good of caliber of kids.”

Barks finished 65th last season, a spot he wants to improve on next week. He said it was an up and down season but it’s all about being hot at the right time.

“This year I started off good but as it went on, it kind of slowly went downhill, I felt like,” Barks said. “Then districts it shot right back up.”

Barks knows he’s a leader for the Mules this season, a role Pyland reiterated. When asked if he felt more pressure in being a leader, he said Thomas knows what to do in this situation. Thomas agreed but said having another Mule in his stable is helpful.

“It helps a lot,” Thomas said. “It makes you feel more comfortable and for me, if I’m comfortable, I play a little bit better.”

Another factor for Thomas is staying out of his head. He said it’s important not to string bad holes together.

“You just think about the good holes and don’t think about the bad ones,” he said. “Think about how you want to play. It’s one shot at a time, one hole at a time. You don’t think about the whole round. When you get on the next tee box, it’s a new hole. New beginning.”

Pyland said with two going to state this year, it continues the standard of Poplar Bluff golf but also shows the others golfers on the team something as well.

“The want to be here,” he said. “The special attention they’re getting. From everyone that’s calling me, every my buddies from CBC, Chaminade, Rockhurst. I call them but they’re always there. They call me to say, ‘Hey Billy, congratulations. Glad you got somebody out this year.’ That’s special to me that they acknowledge these guys.”