Wildcat golfers are Big 8 champs

Big 8 Conference champions Members of the 2006 Cassville Wildcat varsity golf team are pictured above holding the plaque that proclaims them as Big 8 Conference champions. The squad won the conference tournament, held last Thursday at Mt. Vernon, by beating Carl Junction by two strokes. Pictured above, from left, are: sophomore Laith Hayward; senior D.J. Meadows; senior Dylan Vogt; senior Derek Neill; and freshman Taylor Vanzandt. Vogt led the squad, shooting 78 and being named to the All-Big 8 first team. Meadows, Neill and Vanzandt were tapped for second team honors. Democrat Photo
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Cassville golfers, put together a team score of 317. Individual scores were: Dylan Vogt, 78; Derek Neill, 79; D.J. Meadows, 80; Taylor Vanzandt 80, and Laith Hayward, 86.

Carl Junction finished with a team total of 319 followed by Mt. Vernon, 333; Monett, 371; Seneca, 378; Aurora, 395; and Lamar, 414.

The top golfer in the tournament was Carl Junction's David Eddy who shot a three-over-par 73 to lead the field.

"What an exciting day," said Cassville Coach Lance Parnell. "I am so proud of these young men. The Big 8 Conference championship has been one of the goals since the end of last year."

In 2005, Mt. Vernon, the hosts of this year's Big 8 tournament, won the conference and Cassville placed second. The last time the Wildcat golf team won a conference championship was in 2002.

As a result of their play in the conference tournament, Vogt was named to the All-Big 8 Conference first team and Neill, Meadows and Vanzandt earned All-Big 8 second team recognition. Wildcat golfers accounted for four of the 10 players named to the All-Big team.

"To see them play well and win this year is a great testament to how hard they have worked this year," said Coach Parnell. "We have been playing well the last couple of weeks, and I hope we can use this win as a springboard into the district tournament."

In addition to his players receiving honors, Parnell was named Big 8 Coach of the Year. \ District play will take place on Thursday at the Carthage Municipal Golf Course. Schools competing in the Class 3, District 6 tournament include Carl Junction, Carthage, Cassville, McDonald County, Monett, Nevada, Republic, Webb City and Willard. The top team advances to state along with the top 10 individuals not from the winning team.