Junior takes 5th place at Class 3, District 3 tourney

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

Hosting the Class 3, District 3 Tournament on its home course on Thursday gave Cassville’s boys golf team a familiar setting, but Coach Clayton Bagby said the Wildcats could never fully settle into a rhythm.

As a team, the Wildcats finished fourth with a score of 343. Springfield Catholic won the event with a 326, followed by Monett in second with a 327 and Nevada in third with a 340.

Individually, Kaleb Artherton was Cassville’s top finisher and sole state qualifier, shooting a 79 to finish in fifth place. Tyson Bohmke and Dennis Craig just missed the cut, tying for 22nd with scores of 87, 1 stroke away from qualification. Cheney Kelley and Aiden McBroom also matched scored, shooting 90s and tying for 33rd, The winner, Springfield’ Catholic’s Harper Elliott, shot a 72.

“We wanted to host [districts] to get the boys on their home course and hopefully give them an advantage,” Bagby said. “We had a few struggles early, then had some stretches of playing pretty good, but we just got a few too many high numbers on the cards.”

Bagby said the inconsistency reflected the challenges that come with the sport, where momentum can change quickly from one round to the next.

“Golf’s a really hard game,” Bagby said. “It can be going really well one day and then the next day it’s hard to find it.”

Despite the team’s ups and downs, Artherton delivered a strong round, and Bagby said his progression this season has been impressive.

“He was very consistent throughout the day,” Bagby said. “I’m really proud of him and the way that he fought the whole year. We had a lot of guys capable of scoring, and he struggled at the beginning of the year. He had to really play well down the stretch to earn the spot to play in districts, and he definitely took advantage of it.”

Now, attention turns to the Class 2 state tournament, scheduled for May 18-19 at the Sedalia Country Club.

Before the trip, Bagby said preparation will focus on becoming as familiar with the course as possible.

“We’re looking at maybe trying to get up there before that Sunday to play,” Bagby said. “I don’t know the course, and he won’t know it either, so we want to get an early look.”

Bagby said seeing the course ahead of time could help identify areas needing extra work before competition begins.

“That way, if there’s anything we need to adjust for or he thinks he needs to practice on, we’ll do it,” Bagby said.

This is Artherton’s first appearance at state, adding another layer of excitement to the trip. Although he will be traveling without teammates competing alongside him, Bagby said the accomplishment still reflects the work he has put in throughout the season.

“I think he’s proud of himself,” Bagby said. “I think he’d tell you he’d rather be going up there with his teammates, but he’s worked really hard to get to the point he’s at.”

Bagby expects that preparation and determination to carry over when the tournament begins in Sedalia.

“He’ll be ready to go up there and do his best,” Bagby said.