Mules win PB golf Invitational

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Rain came midway through the Poplar Bluff Invitational, slowing play Monday at Westwood Hills Country Club, but not the host Mules.

Poplar Bluff shot a 298, beating runner-up Dexter by 38 strokes, and were led by Trent Hillis, who shot an ever-par 71.

Chance Holden of Dexter was second at 73.

Of the eight scores under 80, the Mules owned half of them while junior Tyler Shulse earned a medal with his round of 83 to lead Poplar Bluff Maroon to a seventh-place finish.

Dexter shot a 336 while New Madrid County Central edged Cape Central by a stroke, 342-343, followed by Notre Dame (344) and Jackson (348).

With the threat of rain, the annual 18-hole tournament was split into two nine-hole shotgun starts. The field played the front 9 before starting the back 9 under dry conditions. Rain started falling after 11 holes and everybody played about two holes in a steady downpour.

Holden led the field with a 1-under 35 at the turn, but Hillis, the defending medalist, made up a one-stroke deficit on No. 11. The two, who were paired together, were even after 15 holes but Hillis birdied his final two holes.

Carr Vernon, a freshman for Poplar Bluff, was third followed by senior teammate Zack Stricker and Van Buren's Zane Betz. Tanner McKinney of Clearwater, Poplar Bluff's Cameron West and Jackson's Tanner Werner also shot under 80.

The Mules won last year's team title with a team score of 300.

POPLAR BLUFF INVITATIONAL

at Westwood Hills Country Club

Poplar Bluff, 298; Dexter, 336; New Madrid County Central, 342; Cape Central, 343; Notre Dame, 344; Jackson, 348; Poplar Bluff Maroon, 349; Kennett, 364; Doniphan, 373; Clearwater, 404; Malden, 412; Caruthersville, 442; Sikeston, 530.

INDIVIDUAL (Par 71) -- Trent Hillis, Poplar Bluff, 71; Chance Holden, Dexter, 73; Carr Vernon, Poplar Bluff, 74; Zack Stricker, Poplar Bluff, 75; Zane Betz, Van Buren, 77; Tanner McKinney, Clearwater, 77; Cameron West, Poplar Bluff, 78; Tanner Werner, Jackson, 79; Jessee Schott, 80; Tim Simmons, Cape Central, 80; Justin fields, New Madrid, 82; Jon Bowman, Dexter, 83; Brett Slaten, Notre Dame, 83; Tyler Shulse, PB Maroon, 83.

CAPE CENTRAL -- Simmons, 80; Sheets, 88; Connell, 85; Viers, 90; Fowler, 91.

CARUTHERSVILLE -- Moss, 86; Dorroh, 99; Mehrle, 127; Haywood, 130; Hames, 131.

CLEARWATER -- McKinney, 77; Courville, 94; Baker, 111; Markham, 122.

DEXTER -- Holden, 73; Bowman, 83; Robey, 89; Justice, 91; Miller, 93.

DONIPHAN -- Granier, 84; Smith, 89; Asay, 97; Swindle, 103.

JACKSON -- Werner, 79; Leimbach, 90; Shultz, 92; Hosp, 87; Webber, 100.

KENNETT -- Richardson, 88; Niemeier, 88; Callewart, 92; Crawford, 96; Lynn, 100.

MALDEN -- Huckeby, 90; Potts, 94; Patillo, 110; Carpenter, 118.

NMCC -- Fields, 82; Griffin, 84; Martindale, 86; Hayes, 90; Porter, 99.

NOTRE DAME -- Schott, 80; Slaten, 83; Knudlson, 90; Neishmidt, 91; Seabaugh, 97.

POPLAR BLUFF -- Hillis, 71; Vernon, 74; Stricker, 75; West, 78; Russell, 85.

PB MAROON -- Shulse, 83; Davis, 85; Riffle, 85; Brooks, 96; LeGrand, 103.

SIKESTON -- Gleason, 116; Littleton, 135; Priday, 135; Curtis, 144.

OTHERS -- Betz, Van Buren, 77; Alex Johnson, PB, 111; Logan Hart, PB, 104;