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BOYS GOLF: Carthage captures COC crown; Derryberry tops Spencer for medalist honors

By:
Jason Peake
Carthage’s Owen Derryberry and Carl Junction’s Jack Spencer were the top two finishers at the COC Boys Golf Tournament. Derryberry won a second playoff hole after the two were tied after 18 holes.

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — With the pressure on, and with an individual conference championship on the line, Carthage’s Owen Derryberry sank a dramatic 30-foot putt to put a final exclamation point on a long day of golf.

Derryberry’s impressive putt concluded a second playoff hole against Carl Junction’s Jack Spencer and gave the CHS junior medalist honors at the 2023 Central Ozark Conference Boys Golf Tournament on Tuesday at Briarbrook Golf Course.

That’s not all. Derryberry’s performance led the way as Carthage captured the COC’s team championship. 

“I feel really good right now,” Derryberry said. “I started out rough today, but I pulled it together and played pretty well. It was like a sigh of relief to see that last putt go in. I’m just proud of our whole team for being COC champs. We want to win districts next. That’s the next goal.” 

On a near perfect day to play, Derryberry and Spencer both fired 1-under-par 71 at the conclusion of 18 holes. 

The first playoff hole, No. 10, ended with the pair still deadlocked. 

After two swings on No. 18, Derryberry ended the tourney in dramatic fashion, converting from 30 feet out.

“He got really hot today,” Carthage coach James Newman said of Derryberry. “He had five birdies in six holes and that gave him a lot of confidence. He’s a gritty player. And on that last putt, you could see the confidence…he knew he made a good putt.”

The Tigers turned in a four-person score of 308, three strokes better than Carl Junction, to capture the team championship.

“I’m really proud of them,” Newman said moments after his team posed for photos with the conference championship plaque. “I feel excellent about how they played today. They were struggling the last few weeks to their standards. They were playing really well at the beginning of the year and they’re playing really well right now. It feels good to watch them succeed out there and to see their hard work come to fruition.” 

Carthage senior Max Templeman tied for fifth place with a 76 and classmate Britt Coy tied for seventh with a 77. 

Also for the Tigers, senior Ben Nicholas shot an 84 and sophomore Luke Lewis carded 103.

Of note, Carthage finished sixth at last year’s COC tourney in Branson. 

This year, the Tigers have won four tourney championships (Joplin, Horton Smith, Pittsburg, COC) ahead of postseason play.

Carthage’s Owen Derryberry putts during Tuesday’s Central Ozark Conference Boys Golf Tournament at Briarbrook Golf Course.

SPENCER, BULLDOGS SETTLE FOR SECOND

Carl Junction finished second in the team standings.

That’s been a common theme of the ’23 season, Bulldogs coach Ryan Jones noted.

“We’re a good golf team and we continue to finish second,” Jones said. “It can be frustrating, but we are a very good golf team. Maybe our time is coming. The COC is a really tough conference. This might be the most-talented field that I can remember in 20 years. For us to be second and in the mix, I won’t lose sight of that. If it was easy to win, everyone would do it. We’re waiting for our moment. We’ll get there.” 

Just a sophomore, Spencer had an impressive showing, but could only watch as Derryberry sank the winning putt.

“Owen made a great putt,” Spencer said. “I don’t feel like I lost the playoff hole…he just made a really good putt. Owen’s a good friend and he’s a great player.

“I thought I played really solid today,” Spencer added. “I bogeyed the first and third holes, but didn’t have any bogeys after that. I played pretty steady. When you shoot 1-under with three birdies that means you’re playing pretty consistently. I had a lot of stress-free pars. I putted better today and that’s something I’ve been struggling with. Of course, more than anything, I wanted to win.” 

Coach Jones noted he was proud of Spencer’s performance.

“Jack is a competitor and a bulldog,” Jones said. “I appreciate the way he plays the game. He’s going to attack and he competes his tail off. Jack’s a talented kid and he had a good day.” 

In addition to Spencer’s runner-up finish, Carl Junction senior Jacob Teeter was one of five players who tied for seventh place with a 77.

Just outside of the top 10 was junior Tommy Walker, who carded 78. Also competing for the Bulldogs were freshmen Austin Baker (85) and Logan Lowry (86).

 

SATTERLEE LEADS JOPLIN

Joplin sophomore Harry Satterlee tied for third place, as he and Nixa’s Noah Naugle both shot 74.

Satterlee was the medalist at last year’s COC tourney in Branson, but his repeat bid fell just a few strokes short.

“I thought Harry played pretty consistently,” Joplin coach Jack Pace said. 

Joplin finished seventh in the team standings with a 332.

Also competing for the Eagles were Ian Surbrugg (80), Dylan Bozarth (88), Hobbs Campbell (90) and Cash Tyson (101).

“330 or so isn’t bad,” Pace said of the team finish. “A couple of years ago, 330 probably would have won some tournaments. But golf in this area has gotten a lot better.”

 

THIS ‘N THAT 

Defending champion Nixa finished third in the team standings behind Carthage and Carl Junction with a 312.

Ozark finished fourth in the team standings with a 321 and Webb City finished fifth with a 329.

Rounding out the team standings were Willard (330), Joplin (332), Branson (338), Republic (343) and Neosho (380).

Cooper Forth (79) and Braxten Cahoon (80) led the way for Webb City, while Levi Lassiter (85), Braden McKee (85) and Jackson Lucas (94) also competed. 

The Neosho Wildcats were led by Colby Shadwick (89) and Collier Hendricks (93). 

The top 10 finishers were recognized as all-conference performers. There were actually 11 golfers who garnered all-COC recognition this year due to ties.

Carthage’s Templeman tied with Republic’s Jace Henry for fifth, as both carded 76. 

In addition to Carthage’s Coy and CJ’s Teeter, tying for seventh place with 77s were Ozark’s Boston Huddleston, Willard’s Cole McMillan and Republic’s Cason Bekemeier.

 

DISTRICT TOURNEYS AWAIT

Area squads head to their respective district tournaments on Thursday.

Carl Junction and Webb City will compete at the Class 4 District 3 tournament at Whispering Oaks Golf Course in Marshfield.

“I want to have a solid day for my team, so maybe our whole team can go to state,” Spencer said.

Joplin, Carthage and Neosho are among the schools competing at the Class 5 District 3 tournament on Thursday at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield.

“I feel good about districts,” Newman said. “We’re going to leave tomorrow and play a practice round and just hang out together. I just hope they leave Rivercut feeling like they did their best.”

 

The Carthage High School boys golf team poses with the COC championship plaque on Tuesday at Briarbrook Golf Course. Photo by Jason Peake.

 

2023 CENTRAL OZARK CONFERENCE BOYS GOLF TOURNAMENT

(At Briarbrook Golf Course)

TEAM BY TEAM RESULTS

CARTHAGE (308): Owen Derryberry 71, Max Templeman 76, Britt Coy 77, Ben Nicholas 84, Luke Lewis 103.

CARL JUNCTION (311): Jack Spencer 71, Jacob Teeter 77, Tommy Walker 78, Austin Baker 85, Logan Lowry 86.

NIXA (312): Noah Naugle 74, Meyer Lively 78, Peyton Burbridge 78, Jack Holden 82.

OZARK (321): Boston Huddleston 77, C.J. Jackson 79, Carter Cronister 82, Luke Jenkins 83, Kyle Fitzpatrick 85.  

WEBB CITY (329): Cooper Forth 79, Braxten Cahoon 80, Levi Lassiter 85, Braden McKee 85, Jackson Lucas 94. 

WILLARD (330): Cole McMillan 77, Logan Crighton 83, Kash Adamson 83, Ethan Bliss 87, Art Maxwell 89.

JOPLIN (332): Harry Satterlee 74, Ian Surbrugg 80, Dylan Bozarth 88, Hobbs Campbell 90, Cash Tyson 101. 

BRANSON (338): Ben Presley 80, Kaden Alms 84, Andrew Bristow 85, Evan Johnson 89, Reese Ruprecht 93.

REPUBLIC (343): Jace Henry 76, Cason Bekemeier 77, Brayden Tharp 88, Bryce Ondrick 102, Luke Heavin 103.

NEOSHO (380): Colby Shadwick 89, Collier Hendricks 93, River Feagans 95, Conner Reiboldt 103, Camp Ramsey 109.

 

2023 Central Ozark Conference_DayX1Gross (tournascore.com)

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