Tigers sit 10th at state tourney

~ Blake Driskell shot a 76 to lead Central's foursome at the Class 4 tournament.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Only one Central golfer was able to break 80 in the opening round of the two-day Class 4 state golf tournament Monday at the Deer Lake Golf Course as the Tigers found themselves in last place in the 10-team field.

Defending state champion Rockhurst has a comfortable 14-shot lead with a 289. Park Hill South followed with a 303.

Tyler Bernard and Jason Schulte were part of a three-way tie for first at 1-under-par 70 to lead Rockhurst. Jay McBride of Lebanon also shot a 70.

Central came in with a 321, four strokes behind Parkway Central. Poplar Bluff was in a two-way tie for fourth with a 306.

Blake Driskell led Central's contingent with a 76, six strokes off the pace. Kirk Lohmann shot an 80, Robert Kaverman shot an 82 and Zach Kluesner shot an 83.

Driskell, making his fourth straight trip to the state tournament, is in search of his first all-state medal. The top 15 finishers are all-state.

Tyler Hillis led the Mules after the first day with a 73. Poplar Bluff has finished in the top four each of the past two years.

Class 1

St. Vincent juniors Zach Richardet and Corey Brueckner are each in the top 10 after the first round of the Class 1 state tournament at the Island Green Golf Course in Republic, Mo.

Richardet was tied for third with a 4-over-par 76. Brueckner was one shot back with a 77.

Haden Crumpton of New Bloomfield led with a 2-under 70. Thayer, which defeated runner-up St. Vincent in the Class 1 District 1 tournament, led the team standings by six strokes with a 326.

Class 3

Notre Dame senior Brandon Holzum was in 70th place with an opening-round 86 at the Class 3 state tournament at the Silo Ridge Golf and Country Club in Bolivar, Mo. Bulldogs freshman Brett Slaten shot an 89.