Second day turns out better for Central, all-stater Driskell

~ The Tigers still finished 10th but they improved by 15 strokes, and Driskell climbed into a tie for seventh place.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Blake Driskell decided to take a risk.

While hitting range balls about 10 minutes before his round Tuesday at Deer Lake Golf Course, the Central senior changed his grip on the driver.

Sure enough, ball after ball rocketed straight down the fairway. A few hours later, Driskell had a Class 4 all-state medal hanging from his neck and a smile on his face that wasn't there after Monday's performance.

"I started hitting it straight on the range and then I went out and hit it as well as I have all year long," Driskell said. "I played really solid, so it was a lot better day all the way around."

Driskell shot a 2-under-par 69 to finish in a four-way tie for seventh with a two-day total of 145. He struggled on the back nine on Monday, going 5-over because of a nasty hook off the tee.

The hook disappeared Tuesday, as he finished with three birdies and just one bogey.

The team total was also much better, as the Tigers posted a 306, 15 strokes better than the first round. That still placed Central 10th in the 10-team field, but they could at least feel better about the way the season ended.

"This was our last high school round ever," Driskell said of the four senior team members. "It was a good way to go out."

Kansas City Rockhurst won its second consecutive championship and state-leading eighth overall after finishing 14 shots in front of second-place Parkway South. Springfield Glendale won a tiebreaker with Columbia Hickman to take third.

Connor McHenry of Jefferson City Helias shot a 65 to come from three shots back and defend his individual title with 4-under-par 138. He edged Ryan Weinhaus of Parkway Central by two strokes.

Central's Kirk Lohmann shot a 76 to finish with a 156 and in a tie for 59th among 125 players. Teammate Zach Kluesner improved nine strokes from Monday for a 74 and a 157 total. Robert Kaverman had an 87 for a 169 total.

Despite winds of 20 mph, the conditions were conducive to better scores on the tourney's second day, as the temperatures rose into the high 60s.

With just four players, Central knew its margin for error coming into the meet was slight.

"We're a little disappointed with our team score, but at least we got here," Lohmann said. "That was the biggest goal all year. We were hoping we'd get lucky or all play good, but it didn't happen.

"I wish we could have played like this the first day, but that's OK. We finished up playing more like we had all year."

Poplar Bluff, which beat Central for the district title and team berth to state, finished fifth with a 606. The Mules shot 300 on Tuesday. Their top finisher was Logan MacDonald, who shot a 70 to finish at 149 and tied for 16th.

Class 1

St. Vincent's two participants in the Class 1 state tournament both finished in the top 15 in the event, which took place at Island Green Golf Course in Republic, Mo.

Zachery Richardet finished in a tie for 11th place with a 16-over-par 160 total. The junior had been tied for third after the first day with his 76 and shot an 84 on Tuesday.

Corey Brueckner, also a junior, finished one stroke back at 161 and tied for 13th place. He had shot a 77 on the opening day and followed with an 84.

Class 3

Notre Dame senior Brandon Holzum finished in a tie for 75th in the Class 3 state tournament at Silo Ridge Golf and Country Club in Bolivar, Mo.

Holzum shot an 84 Tuesday after his 86 on Monday for a 170 total.

Freshman Brett Slaten tied for 113th in the field of 126 golfers. He shot a 95 on Tuesday after his 89 on Monday for a 184 total.