A stellar regular season has concluded for the Joplin High School girls golf team.
The Eagles finished third in the team standings at their own Lady Eagle Invitational on Tuesday afternoon at Schifferdecker Golf Course.
“We had a full field and a lot of tough competition today,” Joplin coach Shannon Neill said. “It was good to see some of the teams we’ll see at districts. Our girls played well. The course was in great shape with really fast greens. It was a perfect day for playing.”
Lee’s Summit West won the invite with a four-person score of 380, while Kickapoo was second with a 383. Joplin finished third with a 406, while Ozark (417) and Carl Junction (423) rounded out the top five teams.
There were 11 full squads in attendance and two incomplete teams.
Ozark’s Josey Roberts was the individual medalist with a 6-over-par 77.
Lee’s Summit West’s Brylie Ellis took second with an 84, Cassville’s Avery Chappell was third with an 85, Kickapoo’s Sarah Jane Trotman took fourth with an 88 and Lee’s Summit North’s Hannah Keisker finished fifth with an 89.
Carthage’s Shay Gaddis and Lee’s Summit West’s Emma Cole tied for sixth place with identical scores of 93. Carl Junction’s Jasmine Woerner and Lee’s Summit West’s Laura Mayo both carded 97 and tied for eighth place.
Six golfers tied for 10th place with scores of 98—Joplin’s Lindsey Belnap and Kenna Haley, Webb City’s Jacie Crouch, Monett’s Katie Geiss and Kickapoo’s Hannah Pile and Ellie Guthrie.
Joplin’s Drew Yockey finished 18th with a 101, while McDonald County’s duo of Fayth Ogden and Kyla Moore tied for 20th with scores of 104.
Carl Junction’s Olivia Teeter tied for 22nd with a 106, while Seneca’s Madison Auman and CJ’s Anna Burch tied for 25th with scores of 108.
Joplin’s Taylor Colson finished 27th, while Seneca’s Madison Collinsworth and Joplin’s Chloe Friend tied for 28th.
Carl Junction’s Alex Teeter and Rylee Sprague, Webb City’s Langlee Walker and Avry Hodson and Monett’s Claire Nation all tied for 30th.
Tuesday’s tourney was the final outing of the regular season.
It’s been a season to remember for the Joplin Eagles, who won four tournaments and took second at another this fall before Tuesday’s third place showing.
Joplin captured tourney titles at Nevada, Carthage, Carl Junction and Cassville this season. The Eagles took second at the first Lady Eagle Invitational back in August.
“Our girls have had a great season,” Neill said. “They are continually improving. And I think they’re coming together at the right time of the season. I think it’s safe to say this is the best season a Joplin girls golf team has had in a while. It’s been exciting for me and it’s been exciting for the girls. And I know the girls are excited to see how they do at COC on Monday and districts next Thursday.”
The Central Ozark Conference tournament will be held on Monday at Horton Smith in Springfield.
Joplin will be the host school for the Class 4 District 3 tournament on Thursday, Oct. 6 at Schifferdecker. The district also features the likes of Kickapoo, Lee’s Summit West, Springfield Catholic, Ozark, Nixa, Republic, Lee’s Summit and Raymore-Peculiar.
“Our district is always tough,” Neill said. “We’re hosting the district tournament here, so that should give our girls some confidence. We’re hoping for a great day. We’ll see what happens next week.”
Lady Eagle Invitational
Team standings: Lee’s Summit West 380, Kickapoo 383, Joplin 406, Ozark 417, Carl Junction 423, Lee’s Summit North 424, Webb City 437, McDonald County 448, Seneca 471, Monett 473, Joplin B 491. Incomplete teams: Carthage, Cassville.
FULL RESULTS: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/8866756822652964548
