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Niezing only player under par to win 76th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational
Chad Niezing reacts to a put on the 18th green during the second round of the 76th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff, Mo.
DAR/Brian Rosener
The score Chad Niezing posted Sunday during the final round of the 76th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational might suggest he didn’t have much trouble Sunday.
“I wouldn’t say I was having fun out there,” Niezing said after a 3-under-par 68 at a windy Westwood Hills Country Club.
“It was hard. It was really hard.”
Drake Stepter hits from the sand on No. 12 during the second round of the 76th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff, Mo.
DAR/Brian Rosener
Niezing made it look easy, winning by five shots as the only player to finish under par at 5-under 137.
Niezing became the 14th player to win the Ozark title a second time following his 2020 victory when he shot 136 to win by four strokes.
He led by as much as seven shots on the back 9 but said he had no idea where he stood on the leaderboard at any time Sunday.
Tod Rose chips onto the ninth green during the second round of the 76th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff, Mo.
DAR/Brian Rosener
“I had a very good feeling I was leading,” said Niezing, who is from Manchester, Missouri.
“I didn’t know if it was by two or by six, I had no idea.”
Defending champion Drake Stepter finished second at even-par 142 while Tod Rose of West Plains, Missouri, was third at 143. Poplar Bluff’s Tyler Norton and David Strickland of Fenton, Missouri, tied for fourth at 144.
David Strickland hits from the sand on No. 3 during the second round of the 76th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff, Mo.
DAR/Brian Rosener
Niezing, Rose and Strickland started the day tied for the lead after 2-under 69 rounds Saturday.
With the usually threat of rain in the forecast for Sunday, tee times were moved up a half hour but the rain never came. The wind, however, never let up over both days.
Norton, the defending club champion, said the course played “about as tough as it gets.”
Tyler Norton chips on the 18th hole during the second round of the 76th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff, Mo.
DAR/Brian Rosener
“I was really surprised when I came off 18 and they’re like he’s 3-under for the day,” Norton said of Niezing.
Only six players had even-par rounds Sunday including Poplar Bluff’s Ben Brumitt and 2016 champion Joshua Rhodes who both tied for sixth at 3-over 145.
Of the six rounds under par during the weekend, Niezing had two. It was the fewest rounds under par over the past 20 years.
Chad Niezing putts on the 17th green during the second round of the 76th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff, Mo.
DAR/Brian Rosener
“I’ve played this tournament many times and I knew how hard it was playing,” Niezing said.
Niezing’s five-shot win was the largest margin of victory since 1994 when Antonio Serrano shot 135 and also won by five.
Just like in 2020, Niezing was in the final group tied for the lead with multiple players.
Chad Niezing tees off on No. 1 during the second round of the 76th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff, Mo.
DAR/Brian Rosener
Unlike 2020, which was played in September when COVID-19 postponed the tournament, the final group didn’t also feature the defending champion.
Stepter started the day one shot off the lead but never got closer after a strong finish to the front 9 by Niezing.
“Chad did exactly what he needed to do,” Stepter said. “He got it around without making any mistakes.”
Even when he did, Niezing was able to limit the damage.
Still tied with Rose and Strickland, Niezing’s tee shot on the par-5 second hole found the water on the left. He wasn’t alone as Rose and Strickland came away with double-bogeys and Stepter missed his par putt.
Niezing, however, chipped to within inches of the hole to save par and take the outright lead.
“Made a really good par, which kind of felt like a birdie honestly,” Niezing said. “You make par like that after taking a penalty it’s a boost.”
After a bogey on the par-4 fifth, Niezing led by a stroke over the rest of his group and Norton playing in the group ahead who carded his first birdie on No. 6.
Niezing also got his first birdie there to get back to 2-under then had another on the par-4 seventh. A par on the long par-3 eighth felt like a birdie when Niezing said he sank a 5-foot slider. Meanwhile, Rose and Strickland missed their par putts and trailed by two and three strokes, respectively.
Niezing’s biggest putt of the day, and perhaps the weekend, came on the next green.
With the hole location on the front left, Niezing’s second shot on the par-5 ninth landed on the back fringe. After seeing Stepter’s nearby chip, Niezing rolled in a downhill putt from about 40 feet for eagle.
“You don’t expect those,” Niezing said.
Rose, Stepter and Strickland made their birdie putts but Niezing was headed to the back 9 with a four-shot lead.
Rose and Strickland had consecutive bogeys while Stepter kept pace with Niezing with pars on what were the two toughest holes for the field Sunday.
On the par-3 12th, Stepter’s tee shot found sand protecting the hole location and he was unable to get up and down to save par.
“I played really, really well both days,” Stepter said. “I hit it good enough to go as low as I possibly wanted to, just made nothing, absolutely made nothing. And wasn’t even putting bad.
“What’s the old adage? If you keep hitting good putts they’re eventually going to fall. Well, they didn’t.”
Niezing’s 20-foot birdie putt on 12 did fall as he reached 6-under for the tournament.
The margin grew to seven on the par-5 14th even after Niezing missed a 15-foot birdie putt and settled for par.
On 15, Niezing’s second shot came up short of the green and a chip left a long putt for par.
“I thought I made it, I was walking it in,” Niezing said of the miss for his second bogey of the day.
“If you hit a good putt it’s OK when you miss. I don’t mind missing putts if I feel like I hit a good put because that’s all you can do.”
After a two-putt for par on the par-3 16th, Niezing sank an 8-footer for par after running a putt past the hole.
“That green is sneaky fast,” he said. “You don’t see it. I knew better.”
Niezing had a birdie putt on 18 stop on the lip before a tap in to complete his victory.
Said Niezing, “Just make par, that’s all I had to do.”
76th TOM HOOVER OZARK INVITATIONAL
At Westwood Hills Country Club, Poplar Bluff, Mo. Yards: 6,315. Par: 71 (142)
Championship Division
| Chad Niezing, Manchester, Mo. | 69-68 — 137 |
| Drake Stepter, Paducah, Ky. | 70-72 — 142 |
| Tod Rose, West Plains, Mo. | 69-74 — 143 |
| Tyler Norton, Poplar Bluff | 70-74 — 144 |
| David Strickland, Fenton, Mo. | 69-75 — 144 |
| Ben Brumitt, Poplar Bluff | 74-71 — 145 |
| Joshua Rhodes, Paducah, Ky. | 74-71 — 145 |
| Ron Mangold, Pocahontas, Ark. | 72-73 — 145 |
| Ryan Chandler, Jackson, Tenn. | 72-73 — 145 |
| Derek Rahlmann, Poplar Bluff | 76-71 — 147 |
| Jarod Meyer, Branson, Mo. | 76-71 — 147 |
| Addison White, Springfield, Mo. | 76-71 — 147 |
| Luke Smith, Covington, Tenn. | 76-72 — 148 |
| Patrick Britt, St. Louis | 74-74 — 148 |
| Chris Dale, St. Louis | 75-73 — 148 |
| Nick Woolard, Poplar Bluff | 76-73 — 149 |
| Chris Love, Poplar Bluff | 74-75 — 149 |
| Bennett Tiefenbrunn, Washington, Mo. | 79-71 — 150 |
| Todd Obergoenner, Cape Girardeau, Mo. | 77-73 — 150 |
| Sam Bass, Doniphan | 76-74 — 150 |
| Chance Holden, Dexter | 73-77 — 150 |
| Tom Wuennenberg, St. Louis | 78-73 — 151 |
| Mike Brown | 77-74 — 151 |
| Jeremy Tandoy, Broken Arrow, Okla. | 75-76 — 151 |
| Antonio Serrano, Rogersville, Mo. | 74-77 — 151 |
| Nathan Woolard, Poplar Bluff | 74-77 — 151 |
| Adam Friga, Oran, Mo. | 78-74 — 152 |
| Alex Wiseman, Poplar Bluff | 77-75 — 152 |
| Jaiden Chavez, Odessa, Texas | 76-76 — 152 |
| Brian Wagner, Park Hills, Mo. | 78-75 — 153 |
| Ryan Ekelcamp, Washington, Mo. | 77-76 — 153 |
| Blake Heimburger, Wentsville, Mo. | 76-77 — 153 |
| Lawson Barks, Poplar Bluff, Mo. | 76-77 — 153 |
| Brett McCauley, Poplar Bluff | 76-77 — 153 |
| Paul Innes, Poplar Bluff | 79-76 — 155 |
| Travis Simmons, Memphis, Tenn. | 77-78 — 155 |
| Case Englehart, Jackson, Mo. | 77-78 — 155 |
| Matthew Scott, Paducah, Ky. | 76-79 — 155 |
| Colby Robertson, Poplar Bluff | 76-79 — 155 |
| Adam Ivie, Poplar Bluff | 78-78 — 156 |
| Nate Frederick | 76-80 — 156 |
| Neil Pullum, Essex, Mo. | 76-80 — 156 |
| Thomas Brockman, Springfield, Mo. | 78-79 — 157 |
| Caleb Peters, Johnston, Iowa | 76-81 — 157 |
| Walker Serrano | 79-79 — 158 |
| Brevin Giebler, Caper Girardeau, Mo. | 77-81 — 158 |
| Caden Ellis, Sullivan, Ill. | 82-77 — 159 |
| Jerrod Murphy, Poplar Bluff | 82-77 — 159 |
| Greg Beale | 76-84 — 160 |
| Ashley McMillian, Farmington, Mo. | 84-77 — 161 |
| Zach Grendell | 81-80 — 161 |
| Hunter Pyland, Poplar Bluff | 77-84 — 161 |
| Mike Miller | 80-82 — 162 |
| Scott Kirchoff, Foristell, Mo. | 80-82 — 162 |
| Zack Stricker, Poplar Bluff | 86-77 — 163 |
| Jake Robertson, Poplar Bluff | 80-83 — 163 |
| Tyler Stalker, Springfield, Mo. | 74-89 — 163 |
| Mike Fiehtner, Poplar Bluff | 84-81 — 165 |
| Jason Goodyke, Paducah, Ky. | 80-85 — 165 |
| Andrew Phelan | 82-84 — 166 |
| Beau Traxel, Cape Girardeau, Mo. | 80-86 — 166 |
| Deke Lape, Sikeston, Mo. | 87-80 — 167 |
| Jack Pierce, Poplar Bluff | 84-83 — 167 |
| Jeremy Felker, Paducah, Ky. | 85-83 — 168 |
| Mike Pigg | 82-88 — 170 |
| Terry Roof, Paducah, Ky. | 80-92 — 172 |
| Drew Brown, Greensboro, N.C. | 86-87 — 173 |
| Les Anderson, Poplar Bluff | 84-89 — 173 |
| Travis Gossett | 87-87 — 174 |
| J. Dexter Busby | 88-89 — 177 |
| Danny Andrews | 93-98 — 191 |
| Drew Eaton, Quincy, Ill. | WD |
| Jesse Meeks | 78-NC — NC |
Senior Division
| Bobby Godwin, Poplar Bluff | 69-77 — 146 |
| Buddy Allen, Pevely, Mo. | 76-72 — 148 |
| Wayne Frederick, Springfield, Mo. | 74-74 — 148 |
| Brian Lovett, St. Louis | 72-76 — 148 |
| Mark Jones, Jonesboro, Ark. | 76-73 — 149 |
| Kirk Viehl, Edwardsville, Ill. | 76-73 — 149 |
| Kyle Viehl, Maryville, Mo. | 76-73 — 149 |
| Ed Brown, Independence, Mo. | 74-75 — 149 |
| Steve Tricarico, Jonesboro, Ark. | 74-75 — 149 |
| Scott Whittaker, Scottsdale, Ariz. | 73-76 — 149 |
| Sean McQueary, Springfield, Mo. | 72-77 — 149 |
| Brian Haskell, St. Joseph, Mo. | 76-74 — 150 |
| Tony Nolfo, Festus, Mo. | 78-72 — 150 |
| Jeff Eiserman, Springfield, Mo. | 74-76 — 150 |
| Joe Malench, Edwardsville, Ill. | 74-76 — 150 |
| Tom Barry, St. Louis | 74-77 — 151 |
| Brian Hall, O’Fallon, Mo. | 74-77 — 151 |
| Kevin Rome, Kansas City, Kan. | 75-79 — 154 |
| Ben Cantrell, Cape Girardeau, Mo. | 80-75 — 155 |
| Brian Scott, Fredericktown, Mo. | 80-76 — 156 |
| Brad Thielemier, Poplar Bluff | 78-78 — 156 |
| Steve Groom, Raytown, Mo. | 77-79 — 156 |
| Robert Trittler, Wentzville, Mo. | 83-74 — 157 |
| David Babcock, Cape Girardeau, Mo. | 82-75 — 157 |
| Brett Allen, Columbia, Mo. | 80-77 — 157 |
| David Pfeil, Eureka, Mo. | 79-78 — 157 |
| Don Kuehn, Kansas City, Mo. | 81-78 — 159 |
| Troy Bell, Jackson, Mo. | 84-76 — 160 |
| Robert Meeh, Eureka, Mo. | 83-77 — 160 |
| Mark Sissom, Scott City, Mo. | 80-80 — 160 |
| Anthony Brown, St. Louis | 84-77 — 161 |
| Brett Combs, Bradleyville, Mo. | 83-78 — 161 |
| Eric Glidewell, Marshfield, Mo. | 83-78 — 161 |
| Richard Williams, Eminence, Mo. | 81-80 — 161 |
| John Shock, Poplar Bluff | 79-82 — 161 |
| E.J. Brumm, Weldon Springs, Mo. | 86-76 — 162 |
| Mark Bolhofner, Cedar Hill, Mo. | 80-82 — 162 |
| Marvin Whitson, Dexter | 84-79 — 163 |
| Jeff Spies, Springfield, Mo. | 82-81 — 163 |
| Don Hudson, Advance, Mo. | 75-88 — 163 |
| Rob Long, Clarksville, Tenn. | 85-80 — 165 |
| Dan Kelley, Chesterfield, Mo. | 84-81 — 165 |
| Chuck Admire, Kansas City, Mo. | 85-81 — 166 |
| Ian Soutar, Cape Girardeau, Mo. | 89-79 — 168 |
| Les Palmer | 85-85 — 170 |
| Andy Bartholomy, Springfield, Mo. | 86-85 — 171 |
| Tom Viers, Cape Girardeau, Mo. | 85-88 — 173 |
| Mark Wethington, Bloomfield | 89-85 — 174 |
| Ross Roberts | 93-86 — 179 |
| Larry Plunkett, Poplar Bluff | 85-96 — 181 |
| Darrin Pryor, Springfield, Mo. | 96-NC — NC |
| John Gaia, South Haven, Miss. | WD |
| Pete Godwin, Omaha, Neb. | WD |
| Tim Rinker, West Plains, Mo. | WD |